The governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has presented the total sum of N147,935,302,948 to the state House of Assembly as the proposed 2021 fiscal document.
Tagged ‘Budget for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development’, the document proposes N74,661,312,950 as capital budget while N73, 273,989,998 was earmarked for recurrent expenditure.
Education sector alone got the largest share of N37.8 billion, representing 25 percent of the total budget.
Giving the breakdown while presenting the budget estimate to the Assembly members on Tuesday, the governor said education sector got the lion share of the estimate in order to cater for various education development projects across the state.
According to him, the sum of N25.5 billion, representing 17 percent of the total 2021 budget estimate, has been earmarked for health sector for upgrading of general hospitals to a minimum of 400 beds in the 4 additional emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Karaye and Rano.
The governor also disclosed that part of the estimate is the establishment of eye, dental and ear clinics in the emirates, as well as other projects in the whole health sector in the state.
Mr Ganduje added that the sum of N11.8 billion had been earmarked to complete ongoing in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
He added that N7.3 billion had been earmarked for construction and completion of roads and bridges, including the 5 kilometers roads protect, started by his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Mr Ganduje explained that, “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.”
He revealed 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.
“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.
“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,” he said.
The governor added that “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. Which the governor explained 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 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.
Governor Ganduje assured 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.”
The focus of the budget according to the governor, would 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.
He also thanked the development partners of the state for their contribution towards the development of the state.
He also urged the assembly to expedite the deliberation and approve the budget into law.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Assembly, Abdul’aziz Garba-Gafasa, assured the speedy passage of the budget without alacrity.
He stated that the assembly would invite civil society organizations for public hearing on the proposed budget before it is passed into law.
