From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Tuesday presented the total sum of N147,935,302,948 to the State House of Assembly as 2021 appropriation bill, tagged “Budget for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development.”
Presenting the document, Ganduje said, ‘the budget reflects our vision for diversification of the state sources of revenue with a view to lay a solid foundation that will guide the administration to pursue its development objectives built on our operational principles, aspirations and priorities geared towards the continued leadership position of the state.’
According to him, the budget is designed to improve all sectors of the economy particularly education, water supply, health, agriculture and infrastructural development.
He added that, “the total recurrent revenue to be collected is estimated at the sum of N106,121,457,794.” Which consists of N24,000,256,503 as internally generated revenue (IGR) and N52,250,000,00 as revenue from the Federation Account, value added tax (VAT) stands at N28,401,874,754.”
Ganduje further pointed out that while other receipts stand at N1,469,326,537. And the total recurrent revenue is lower than that of the last year of 2020 by N604,692,618.
He stated that, ‘the total recurrent expenditure of the 2021 budget stands at N73,273,989,998, that consists of N7,692,437,537 as Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges. And also the sum of N55,610,090,282 is earmarked as personnel cost and N9,971,462,179 is earmarked as Overhead cost. ”
‘However, the proposed capital expenditure for the 2021 fiscal document stands at N74,661,312,950, which is higher than that of 2020 revised budget by N14,175,781,008.
Ganduje explained the capital expenditure would be financed by N32,847,467,796 as expected from Recurrent Revenue Surplus and total capital receipts of N41,813,845,154.”
He said the capital receipts is made up of N6,030,227,464 as expected Internal and External loans drawdown. While for the estimated general grants it stands at N33,290,059,628. And Miscellaneous receipts stands at N2,229,992,156, with treasury opening balance of N263,565,905.
Ganduje maintained that, “having laid down the foundation for the implementation of policies and programmes of our administration in the last ten months, we intend to commit our energy and resources to the pursuit of major projects and programmes in the 2021 fiscal year.”
He said the focus of the budget according to the governor will be the integration of Almajiri system of education, security, food security, fight against corruption (the state has the vibrant Anti-Corruption Agency, as acknowledged by the governor),health, empowerment programmes, skills acquisition and public private partnership, among others.
However, education sector has over N37 Billion representing 25% of the total budget, health care delivery service has over N25 Billion representing 17% of the total budget, the sum of over N3 Billion is earmarked for the take-off of Kano light train project, while Housing and Transport is earmarked with over N3 Billion, Information Ministry has the total budget of N2.5 Billion and Agriculture has been earmarked with the total sum of N5.7 Billion among other sectors.
Speaking after receiving the budget document, the House Speaker, Abdulaziz Garba Gafasa, promised to ensure speedy passage of the appropriation bill which he agreed was designed to trigger development in the state in the next fiscal year.
While calling on Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders to make themselves available for public hearing on the proposed budget, he also urged heads of government agencies, ministries and paratatals to prepare for adequate defence of proposed budget.
