By Amos Tauna
Kaduna State government has proposed to spend N201,049,213,385.77 with capital budget gulping N125,500, 774,460.66 and recurrent expenditure of N75,548, 438, 925.12. The state government presented the 2018 Draft Budget on Saturday to Citizens for Inputs.
The government presents the budget annually in a town meeting in Kaduna, as part of measures designed to allow citizens make inputs, after which the State Executive Council would approve the final estimate.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai is scheduled to present the final draft estimate to Kaduna State House of Assembly on 12th October for consideration and passage into law.
Speaking at the town hall meeting, Governor Nasir El-Rufai urged citizens to suggest projects they want the government to execute for them, noting that the last two budgets for 2016 and 2017 were raised after citizens recommended projects not captured.
El-Rufai said the town hall meeting is a platform for the government to hear the people on yearnings and aspirations, as a way to make them participate in governance.
He said the state government has made the draft budget available on the internet for people to study and make contributions.
He commended the State House of Assembly for passing the state budgets in record time since 2015 to enable implementation to commence by 1st of January.
Uba Sani, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Intergovernmental affairs said, through the town hall meetings the 2016 and 2017 budgets were increased after inputs from citizens were captured before they were sent to the State House of Assembly for passage into law.
According to Uba, the 2016 budget was raised from N169b to N171b, an increase of 5bn, while the 2017 budget was raised from N189b to N215bn, and increase of 26 billion to accommodate projects suggested by people at the town hall meetings.
The 2018 draft budget estimate of N201, 049, 213,385.77 maintained a priority for capital spending which has N125,500,774,460,66, reflecting 62.4 percent of the budget proposals. Recurrent expenditure is set at N75,548,438,925,12, 37.6 percent of the budget.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi explained that the 2018 budget targets the completion of capital projects begun in 2017 and delivery of public goods as outlined in the State Development Plan (2015-2020).
Speaking on behalf of Civil Society Organizations, Emmanuel Bonet called for increased funding to State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM), to enable it conduct the forthcoming Local Government Elections without hitches, noting that the N500m allocated to the commission is insufficient.
The Minority Whip and Member Representing Chikun Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Yakubu Barde, commended Governor Nasir Elrufai for carrying the citizens of the state along, by given them a platform to air their views and criticisms, adding ,”when it comes to governance, partisanship must be set aside”.
Garba Shehu Sarkin Noma, Member representing Sanga/Jema’a Federal Constituency said, though he is a member of the PDP, but ‘we must commend good things no matter where they came from’.
He said the administration of Nasir Elrufai is ‘building enduring institutions’ that will outlast his administration, especially the entrenchment of transparency and accountability in governance.
Sarkin Noma called for the implementation of Anchor Borrower scheme in Southern Kaduna to empower the youth in agriculture.
