By Usman Gwadabe
Kano State House of Assembly had reiterated its stand towards speedy passage of 2023 budget in to law to pave ways for the executions of more developmental projects and programmes in the state
Speaker, Engr. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari stated this during a two days workshop on ‘Development of Economic and Fiscal Update, Fiscal Strategy Paper and Budget Policy Statement’ organized for top government functionaries and other development partners and civil societies by the State Ministry of Planning and budget held at Asa Pyramid Hotel Kaduna State, recently.
The Speaker who was represented his Deputy, Hon. Kabiru Hassan Dashi further stated that the objective of the gathering was to among others review the 2022 half year budget performance report and development of economic and fiscal update, fiscal strategy paper and budget policy statement for the year 2023-2025 fiscal plan.
He said it also provide indicative resource projections of Kano State budget for the year 2023.
Dashi further disclosed that as you are aware the exercise dwelt critically on economic consequences largely cause by high inflation rate, exchange rates, low purchasing power, fall in income and wages.
The deputy speaker commended the participants for their tireless efforts in bringing out projections that would be compatible with realities of the state for the year 2023-2025 fiscal plan, pointing out that the House has noted and impressed with the state government efforts through Ministry of Planning and Budget and other stakeholders on the issue.
The Deputy Speaker called on the ministry and other relevant stakeholders to continue to take full advantage of Kano State Pubic Financial Management Law passed by the House to serve as a guide in this exercise and all other processes in budget planning and process.
He then thanked the state Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for the series of developmental projects being executed in the state.
In his remarks the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Usman Alhaji said the workshop was strategically designed to describe how budget process fits within the medium term expenditure which will relate to policy and strategic planning and budget preparations as it gives participants an avenue to comprehend and understand how resources are allocated to all relevant sectors on a more realistic and scientific basis.
He said this enable all the MDAs to plan and execute budget with greater zeal and confidence in delivering laudable projects and programmes for the overall benefits of the people in the state.
He appreciated the efforts of development partners particularly the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office through PERL and all the civil society for making the workshop a reality.
In his speech the Head of Civil Service Alhaji Usman Bala who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Fatima Fulani Sarki said the workshop come at a better time and indicated that preparing a budget is a remainder that our public service are many and varied and that we relied heavily on.
In his closing remarks the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Planning and Budget, Alhaji Auwal Umar Sanda expressed appreciations on the inputs generated during the workshop and assured the participants that the inputs generated is going to be used judiciously, as contained in a statement issued by Uba Abdullahi, the Chief Press Secretary to the House.