Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday presented
an Appropriation bill of N216.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the state
House of Assembly.
El-Rufai,
in the budget tagged, “Budget of Consolidation”, explained that N131 billion
was earmarked as capital expenditure, representing 60.5 per cent, while N85
billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure, representing 39.4 per cent.
According
to him, capital expenditure is allocated 60 per cent because of the
administration’s resolve to spend more and invest in the people.
“Under
capital expenditure, the Social Sector received the largest chunk of N51.4
billion; Economic Sector, N38 billion; General Administration, N26 billion; and
Real Sector, 14 billion.”
He
said that the Social Sector, comprising education, health and social
development took the lion share of 39.2 per cent of the budget so as to promote
social justice through human capital development.
“We
envisage starting the year with an opening balance of N10 billion with
internally generated revenue of over N42 billion and statutory allocation from
Federation Account of over N34 billion.
“The
recurrent expenditure estimate for 2018 are projected to be broken down as,
public desk charges, that is payment of loans and other facilities estimated at
over N4 billion with consolidated revenue fund charges at over N1 billion.
“Others
include, personnel cost, N40 billion; overhead cost, N44 billion; and 10 per
cent statutory transfers from the state to local government areas, totaling
over N85 billion.
“The
breakdown of the capital account for 2018 as projected would be transfers from
the recurrent budget surplus of over N2 billion and over N13 billion from value
added tax.
“Others
are over N800 million as internal loans as well as N89 billion as external
loans, internal grant at over N9 billion while external grant stands at over N4
billion.”
He
added that the state would raise over N11 billion from sales of government
quarters.
Receiving
the budget estimates, the Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali,
assured of the assembly’s commitment to diligently scrutinise the document for
the benefits of the people of the state.
Shagali
said that legislative arm would support the executive in ensuring peace and
social justice in the state.
He
added that the House would ensure that the budget meet the yearnings and
aspirations of the people.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government had earlier proposed N201 billion as
2018 budget, but N15 billion was added after receiving inputs from citizens
during a town hall meeting.
NAN
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