Governor El-Rufai presents 2018 budget draft to citizens for input

The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has presented a draft of the 2018 budget estimates of N201 billion to the citizens of the state for scrutiny before presentation to the State House of Assembly.

The measure, according to him, is to allow citizens of the state to make their input in the budget after which the state executive council will approve the final estimate.

El-Rufai, who spoke at the weekend during the presentation of the draft budget at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Murtala Square, venue of the town hall meeting, urged the people to suggest projects they want the government to execute for them.

He said the budgets for 2016 and 2017 were raised after citizens recommended projects not captured by the government.The governor, who said the meeting was a platform for the government to listen to the yearnings and aspirations of the people and also an avenue for the citizens to participate in governance, commended the state House of Assembly for passing the previous budgets in record time to enable implementation to commence.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Inter-governmental Affairs, Malam Uba Sani, said through town hall meetings, the 2016 and 2017 budgets were increased after the input of citizens.

According to him: “The 2016 budget was raised from N169 billion to N171 billion, while the 2017 budget was raised from N189 billion to N215 billion to accommodate projects suggested
by people at the meetings.”

In the same vein, the state’s Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, said the 2018 budget targets the completion of capital projects and delivery of public goods as outlined in the State Development Plan (2015-2020).

Meanwhile, civil society organisations have canvassed more funds to the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM) to enable it conduct the forthcoming local council elections without hitches.

Also, Yakubu Barde, the Minority Whip and member, representing Chikun Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the governor for giving the citizens a platform to air their views and criticisms.

Another PDP member at the House, Garba Shehu Sarkin Noma, representing Sanga/Jema’a Federal Constituency, stressed that the administration of El-Rufai is “building enduring institutions” that will outlast his administration, especially the entrenchment of transparency and accountability in governance.”