Kano presents N219.2b budget for 2014

Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State has presented a budget of N219.2 billion to the state House of Assembly for the 2014 fiscal year.
Kwankwaso said out of the amount, N70.6 billion was for recurrent expenditure while the remaining N148 billion was for capital project.
He said: “The recurrent expenditure represents 32 per cent of the total budget while the capital represents 68 per cent.
“The 2014 budget is lower than the 2013 budget by N19.2 billion.”
He said the budget, tagged: “Budget of consolidation,” was aimed at fulfilling the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state and position the state at the forefront in the country.
He said the state government would ensure that all the ongoing projects were completed during the year hence the decision to dedicate 90 per cent for completion of ongoing projects and 10 per cent for new projects.
Kwankwaso said: “Let me emphasise here that our administration does not contemplate abandoning any ongoing project in view of the huge resources already committed.”
According to him, education will receive the lion share, with an allocation of N20.8 billion, adding that government had concluded arrangement to give free education to all indigenes of the state.
Responding, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Gambo Sallau, pledged the commitment of the parliament to go through the document and ensure its speedy passage.
Sallau, however, commended the governor for the various development projects executed in the state within the last two and a half years.
Before the arrival of the speaker and 10 other principal officers, who were taken to Abuja after their arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the House elected Alhaji Abdulaziz Gafasa as pre-tempo speaker.
After the election, the House suspended Order One, Rule 8 (A) to allow the it to continue with proceedings after 6pm.