The Kaduna state government is proposing to spend N237bn in 2021, out of which N157.56 billion is for capital projects and N79.96 is for recurrent expenditure.
Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Mr Thomas Gyang, who made this known at a virtual town hall meeting, said that the draft budget was presented to the people to obtain their views, comments and input from the public before the draft budget estimate is transmitted to the Kaduna State House of Assembly.”
Gyang, who said that since 2015 the state annual budget had been discussed at a town hall meeting, while all budgets are passed and signed in the preceding year to align the fiscal and calendar years, noted that Kaduna state’s 2021 draft budget takes into account the economic impact of Covid-19 and the uncertainty that followed.
Gyang said the draft budget prioritises capital spending, with a capital to recurrent ratio of 66%:34%, in support of Governor Nasir el-Rufai administration’s commitment to education, health and infrastructure by devoting most of the capital allocation to these sectors. “The sum of N124bn, almost 79% of the N157.56bn capital budget is allocated to the economic and social sectors.”
He said, “N62.2bn has been devoted for the social sector (education N38bn and health N22.6bn). The economic sector capital allocation of N62.13bn includes infrastructure (N37.4bn), agriculture (N10bn), business, innovation and technology (N5.6bn) and N8.6bn for housing and urban development.
“Total budgetary allocation to the various sectors also reflects these priorities, with N59.59bn on education (25% of the budget), N35.78bn on health (15%) and N55.1bn on infrastructure (23%). The focus of government since 2015 has been governance reforms, education, health and infrastructure.”
He recalled that in June 2019, Governor Nasir el-Rufai launched the Urban Renewal Project, the most significant investments ever in urban infrastructure in the state, with the goal of upgrading the three major cities: Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria.
Deputy governor of Kaduna state, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, in her remarks, explained that the budget priorities reflect the ‘’Putting People First’’ agenda.
“Education and health are the principal components of human capital development, while investments in Infrastructure are critical to maintaining our competitiveness, supporting economic dynamism, creating jobs and promoting the well-being of our people,” she said.
Dr Balarabe said the comments and inputs from the town hall meeting will be considered before the proposed budget is presented to the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
