By AKIBU HAMISU (Program Officer)
It’s an honor to address this esteemed assembly once again.
I expressed my profound appreciation to the honorable house for fostering citizen’s engagement in decision making processes, showcasing a steadfast commitment to promoting democratic governance. I also used this medium to applaud the efforts of the present administration’s adoption of reforms and standard practices that align the proposed budget based with Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Scientific Projections- namely, Economic and Fiscal Update (EFU), Budget Policy Statement (BPS), Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
Moreover, I equally commended the Hon. House of Assembly for maintaining an annual tradition of public hearing on proposed budget to allow citizens to give their inputs, observations and constructive criticisms where necessary. This inclusive approach reinforces accountability and responsiveness in governance.
OVERVIEW OF THE 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET:
We critically review the proposed 2025-budget of the sum of 549,160,417,663.00 with capital expenditure 312,634,912,672.179 representing 57% and recurrent expenditure of 236,525,504,990.816 amounting to 43%. The following observations were identified and as well proposed recommendations for your kind considerations.
POSITIVE FEATURES OF THE BUDGET:
1. The proposed budget has made a substantial allocations for Social Sector of about 285.9bn equivalent to 54% which has been a commendable step in addressing the critical needs of the Ministries under the sector such as Education, Health, Environment, Youth, Women, and Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction etc. which demonstrated government commitment to the improvement of the general well-being of its citizens.
2. The Economic Sector has received the sum of 175.5bn (35.49%) to cover critical sector of infrastructural development, Agriculture, Commerce, Tourism, Water and Rural & Community Development among others
3. While the Administrative Sector allocated the sum of 63.4bn (13%) implies a deliberate efforts to cut expenses in the administrative sector whereby redirecting more funds for implementation of projects, programs and activities aimed at impacting the lives of the kano populace.
4. The double steps taking to improve the internally generated revenue drive with a projection of 75.7bn was equally laudable especially looking into the proposed projections of the preceding years.
5. The allocations made for both Education and Health to the sum of 108,836,639,945.73 representing 19.82% and 90,600,835,766.48 equivalent to 16.50% respectively which outshine the international recommendations is a worthy to appreciate.
SECTORAL OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
EDUCATION SECTOR:
The allocations made in the current fiscal year (2024) for the capital expenditure of the sector stood at 50,422,439,898.59 out which only 8,162,868,603.34 was released equivalent to 16% only as a performance. Thus implies very low performance which will in turn negate the administration objectives in State of Emergency Mission as declared by the governor. We therefore appeal to the house to strengthen its oversight function in ensuring more funds are releases for various projects and programs.
HEALTH SECTOR:
1. The allocations made on immunization for 2024 was 528M out of which 299.0M was released which is commendable but for 2025 proposed budget only 13.5M was allocated which seems negligible considering that, kano is among the states with high number of zero dose children (330,000) across 15 LGAs of the state. We therefore urged the house to increase the budgetary provision for immunization to cover significant reduction in zero dose children whereby improve health outcomes of infants, children under 23 month.
2. The provision made for Development of Annual Operational Plan for the sector of about 1,000,000,000 draw much concerns, given that donor partners working with sector typically sponsored such plans and also the amount is too much to be spend just for the development of operational plan which is already on existence. We call on the house to consider re-appropriating these funds to critical healthcare services.
3. We also observed with keen interest the provisions made for ensuring Minimum Service Package on PHCs in 484 wards was 90,000,000 for 2024 but zero releases was recorded and for 2025 the sum of 1,500,000,000 was appropriated. We equally urged the house to double their oversight efforts in ensuring the release of these funds meant to facilitate access to basic healthcare services at grass root levels.
4. The sector also budgeted the sum of 2,430,588,049 just for the Building of Incinerator at 484 apex Health Facilities which is around 5-Million per each PHC. Based on our findings, most of these apex PHCs already possesses incinerators and the money is too much to be spend just for this purpose when looking into the multiple challenges confronting the sector.
INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR:
1. While appreciating and applauding the giant stride of infrastructural development taking place in the state. We are stressing that, the house do consider equity in terms of infrastructural development are disproportionately focused centered within the metropolitan areas even though its jointly co-funded by all 44-LGAs and often leaving the rural communities without any tangible development.
2. The delay on releasing funds for most of the infrastructure development largely pushed some constructions to commence during raining season which equally affect the quality and efficiency of the projects. We therefore, urged the house to promptly follow ups to ensure that funds are released as of when due for full implementation of projects on the right time.
ABOUT 2023 BUDGET AUDITED REPORT QUIRIES RISED
As concern citizens working to complement government efforts especially in fighting corruption, ensuring accountability and transparency, we want to call for the honorable house to intensify its constitutional mandate in holding all MDAs and individual queried were brought to book to face the wrath of their actions according to the law of the land. It may interest you to know that, about 11 queries were raised by the auditor general of the state amounting to 26,925,064,885.30.
CONCLUSION:
I commend the efforts of the honorable house for its openness and participatory legislative processes, I want to stress on the critical constitutional roles granted to you in ensuring check and balances which remains pivotal in fostering public trust and accountability in the democratic institutions. We therefore remained committed on our engagement with the house as partners in progress who are always ready to give our contributions towards the success of our dear state. We also wish the honorable members a successful tenure completion.
