Kaduna Govt presents Q1 budget performance to legislature, explains Budget Adjustment Mechanism

For the first time in the history of the state, the Kaduna State Government has presented the first quarter budget performance report to the House of Assembly. 

Finance Commissioner Suleiman Abdu Kwari told the legislators that the presentation of the budget performance report “is in furtherance of the quest of the El-Rufai government to ensure accountability and transparency in governance”.

Reviewing the budget performance, Kwari recalled that the 2016 Budget is based on 60:40 expenditure profile for Capital and Recurrent. Key priorities for the budget are: Infrastructure, Healthcare, Security, Jobs and Agriculture with Education Sector being given the utmost priority. 

While the revenue dip has been a bit of a dampener, procurement processes for capital projects have dominated the first quarter as the government remains determined to fulfill its manifesto commitments. Capital spending in the first quarter amounts to an unprecedented N7bn, with N4.9bn going to the Education sector for school renovation, furniture, and uniforms, and almost a billion naira as payments for the Zaria Water Project.

OSUN ELECTION: Aregbesola Challenges Opposition To A Debate

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Friday challenged opposition political parties to a live television debate on the finances of the state.

Aregbesola was responding to allegation of financial recklessness levelled against his administration by the Social Democratic Party.

The governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Mr Sunday Akere, said the government had been prudent and transparent in the handling of its finances. He said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Osogbo that the governor would at any given time or period, be ready to explain in details all actions of government in the last three and half years.

“The Aregbesola government is built on accountability and transparency; we have nothing to hide, especially when it has to do with finances and projects execution.