The administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Kano State has presented a draft budget estimate of N219.7 billion for 2019 financial year to the Kano State House of Assembly.
The budget proposal, tagged Budget of ‘Sustainable Development,’ is lower by N27 billion than that of 2018 financial year.
The presentation of the budget proposal to the Assembly, which is the last under the current administration, was made Wednesday by Governor Ganduje.
Delivering the proposal, he said infrastructure took the highest share of N38.31 billion.
According to the governor, “The 2019 budget is designed in a way so as to attain the developmental agenda of the administration which is geared at developing the state in all ramification.
“The budget will focus on efficient and effective public spending through prudent public financial management process; to continue synergy and cooperation with the various stakeholders in the state.”
In the same vein, he said, “The target of the budget is to ensure transparency and accountability and to continue with process of participatory budgeting.”
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“With due consultations with relevant stakeholders within and outside the public service, we are proposing an aggregate, budget of N219, 655, 217, 756 for the year 2019.
“Out of this amount, the sum of N134, 0 65, 152, 619 is dedicated for capital expenditure, while the sum of N85, 590, 65, 167 is for recurrent expenditure.”
Highlighting on the policies and detailed budget allocations, the governor said, “The total projected recurrent revenue for the year 2019 is estimated at the sum of N156, 761, 637, 947 which consist of N45 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N101, 761, 637, 947 as revenue from federation account.
“The total recurrent revenue is higher than that of the year 2018 by N11, 801, 941.73 representing 12 percent.
“The proposed capital expenditure for the 2019 fiscal year is N134, 065, 152, 619 which is lower than that of 2018 by N29, 117,285, 476 as it is to be financed by N71, 171, 572, 780 expected recurrent revenue surplus and total capital receipts of N62, 893, 579, 839.
“The capital receipt is made up of N28, 017, 500, 000 as expected internal and external loans. N32, 422, 885, 355 is estimated grants. N1. 925 billion miscellaneous receipts and treasury opening balance of N530, 194, 484.”
He further stated, “The focus of the 2019 budget will be on completing on-going projects in health, education, rural roads, power, water and agriculture and other critical infrastructure.”
However, Ministry of Water Resources got the second highest allocation of N26.4 billion; agriculture, N9.4 billion; education, N18 billion; environment, N3 billion; health, N2.5 billion; rural development, N2 billion, commerce and industry, N1.6 billion; security and justice, N2.8 billion; women and social development, N861 million, and general administration, N7.8 billion.
Speaking after receiving the proposed budget, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, assured Ganduje that the budget was at home and in a safe hand, promising that the House will work tirelessly to ensure smooth and speedy deliberations.
According to him, already, the House has concluded arrangements for public hearing on the proposed budget, urging stakeholders, civil society organisations and citizens to feel free to approach the House anytime for advice and inputs.
