From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Kaduna state government yesterday Presented implementation and utilization of the 2022 budget, tagged, ‘Budget of Sustainable Growth” through the Citizens’ Accountability Report (CAR) in its move for accountability and transparency.
Speaking at the Citizens’ Accountability town-hall engagement held at the Ministry of Local government Affairs, the Permanent Secretary State Ministry of Finance, Muhammad Mahmud Shu’aibu said, the engagement which is the third edition is necessary, because accountability, Transparency and inclusiveness are the watchwords of the state government led by Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai thus, the reason he signed the Open Government Partnership (OGP) policy in the state.
He explained that the aim of the engagement organized by the ministry is to give the public feedback on the funds that are appropriated in the year 2022
“We engaged the general public through a town hall meeting with, what requiring the budget, we captured and harvested their inputs, they critique, we harvested their inputs and then factored them into the budget and presented to the State house of Assembly. After passage, the excellency assented to law, now we have implemented, and in 2022 and passed, it is our responsibility to give the public feedback on how we have implemented and utilized it.
“That is why we invited members of the public to come and critique, ask questions and seek clarity on the implementation and utilization of the budget” he said
Presenting the CAR on the 2022 Mr. Bolaji Osho of Skills Future Nigeria said the 2022 budget of Kaduna state was passed, and implementation commenced on the 1st January 2022, saying that the aggregate CASH revenue performance was 74.8%of the budgeted N309, 871 Billion in the final budget this is equivalent to N78.183 billion shortfall.
Osho explained that Federation account revenue out performed expectation and stood at 106.4% whilst IGR performance was below budget and stood at 87.1%
“On the expenditure side, the actual total expenditure is about N55.011 billion (17.8%) less than the budgeted amount which was N309, 879 billion.”
He stressed that capital expenditure was impressive during the period under review and with a performance of 84.1. % of budgeted amounts, saying, ” much of the capital expenditure in 2021 were fresh projects and programmes; some were also continuation of existing projects
In her remark, the citizens co-chair, Social Protection , (OGP), Philip Yatai said the presentation shows that Kaduna state as an OGP, is working with the citizens in the budgeting process and implementation.
He therefore craved for the sustenance of such healthy, and positive relationship between the govt and citizens.
The Citizens’ Accountability Report (CAR) is a series of graphic and tabular illustrations of the contents of the Audited financial statements (AFS) prepared by a government agency (state Audit office) on behalf of the state government to the citizens to ensure accountability of public funds.
