The Governor of Kano state Dr. Umar Ganduje has presented a budget of N245,310,516,94.08 billion naira to the state Assembly for the 2023 fiscal year.
The budget which is his last, as Ganduje’s eight years tenure winds up, is tagged Budget of “Consolidation and Prosperity Two”, and slightly higher than that of the previous year.
The capital expenditure for 2023 fiscal year stood at over N144.67 billion naira, representing 59 percent, while recurrent expenditure stood at N100.964 billion naira representing 41 percent of the total budget.
“Education has the highest proposal of N62 billion naira, representing 27 percent, which is above the UNESCO annual budgetry allocation target of 25 percent, followed by health with 39.16 billion naira, infrastructure with N35 billion naira and general administration with N32 billion naira.
Others are Agriculture with N19.9 billion naira, Security and Justice with 12.8 billion naira, water N15 billion naira, Information with N2.3 billion.
Governor Ganduje said the thrust of the budget is to consolidate on the gains recorded and improve in the areas of the free and compulsory education policy of the goverment in Primary and Secondary schools, reformation of the Almajiri system, security, infrastructrue, Agriculture, health, skills acquisition, including Public Private Partnership arrangements.
“The budget is aimed at making Kano a better place for the people, create more jobs for youths and continue to make Kano the most peaceful state in the country,” he said.
Kano is the most populous state in Nigeria, and the second biggest commercial city in the country.
Speaker, Kano state House of Assembly, Right Honourable Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari said the house will expidite action on the passage of the budget before the end of December, without compromise, in order for the state to meet up with its policy of budget implementation beginning from January to December each year.
“We thank the Governor for the timely presentation for deliberation, consideration and approval. The house has been encouraging synergy between other arms of government for sustenance and stability of democracy in the state and indeed Nigeria,” he said.
He called on heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to prepare for the budget defence, while urging Civil Society Organisations to prepare to participate in the screening and make relevant inputs.
In view of dwindling revenue, Chidari urged agencies to evolve new ways to increase revenue base of the state rather than waiting for FAAC, as the house has supported such initiatives by passing revenue bills sent to it.
He said in the last three and half years, the house had passed 40 bills, passed resolutions on 200 motions, all aimed at improving the living standards of the people.
