The Zamfara State Government has refuted the claim that it budgeted 19.3 billion Naira for purchasing kitchen equipment in the 2024 budget appropriation.
On Tuesday, an online platform claimed that a review of the state budget performance document shows that the state budgeted N19.3 billion to purchase kitchen and canteen equipment for the 2024 fiscal year.
But addressing a press conference in Gusau on Tuesday, the state commissioner for budget and planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, said the quoted amount is for various projects under the ministry of education.
According to him, the projects include the construction of zonal primary schools, the provision of smart primary schools in Gusau, the procurement of kitchen utensils for all government schools, and construction of teachers training centers among others.
While expressing disappointment over the misleading and unprofessional report, Mr Gajam said “The news platform that peddled the fake news pushed half-baked statistics, omitting the vital information from the complete budget performance document.
He explained that “the breakdown of 19.3 billion was budgeted under the Ministry of Education, and it is under the category of capital expenditure.
“The name canteen and kitchen is a fixed asset purchase, the coded name of a particular category of multiple expenditures which contain provisions on the agile programme, the construction of zonal primary schools, provision of smart primary school in Gusau, the procurement of kitchen utensils for all government school for N40 million, construction of teachers training centre, and the creation of teachers development funding scheme.
“All this put together is what constituted 19.3 billion.
The commissioner further stressed that the current administration under Governor Dauda Lawal came to reduce the abuse of public funds and block leakages.
“We would not be found wanting in relation to such mismanagement and irresponsibility,” he added.
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