From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna state government, today (Thursday May 30), presented implementation and utilization of the 2023 budget, tagged, “Budget of Continuous Growth and Development” 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 of the State Ministry of Finance, Habib A. Lawal said the Town Hall Meeting was a testament to the dedication of the Kaduna State government in the last few years to open dialogue and active participation from all relevant stakeholders.
He said the administration of Gov Uba Sani has promised open partnership with the citizens of Kaduna State through the release of the annual Citizen Accountability Report which includes all financial dealings of the State.
He further explained that the engagement organized by the ministry aims to give the public feedback on the funds that were appropriated in the year 2023.
“We engaged the general public through a town hall meeting with what required the budget, we captured and harvested their inputs, critiqued them, we harvested their inputs and then factored them into the budget and presented them to the State House of Assembly. After passage, the Excellency assented to the law, and now we have implemented it, in 2022 and passed, and 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 for 2023, Saleh Bilyaminu, Planning and Budget Commission said the report includes a review of the Budget outturn, revenue outturn, expenditure outturn, audit findings, audited financial statements, top sectors allocation, top value projects, the implementation status report on citizen nominated projects, and Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion Projects.
“The originally approved Kaduna State 2023 “Budget of Continuous Growth and Development, ” was assented to by the Governor on the 29th of December 2022 with an approved size of ₦376.4 billion.”
“The total revenue performance by the State in 2023 was ₦242.1 billion, indicating a 64% performance of the budget amount, while the actual expenditure was ₦229.6 billion, representing 61% against the final budget.”
“The performance of ‘Other Recurrent Costs’ was 59%, personnel emoluments —74% while capital expenditure recorded a 57% outturn.”
“As explained earlier, recurrent expenditure (personnel plus other recurrent costs,) share in the total amount spent in 2023 was 44% while 56% was spent on capital expenditure.”
“The Government prioritized the expenditure in key sectors including Education, Health, and Public Works as well as the completion of key projects.”
“The huge spending on Education, Health, and infrastructure reflects the priorities of the government in educating the citizens, and nurturing healthy citizens while providing the relevant infrastructure that will aid development,” he said.
Similarly, Mr.Yusuf Goje of CALPED observed that the State government is committed to key reforms for the development of the State.
He explained that the Citizen’s report can be used by Stakeholders to engage the State government and demand accountability as every citizen has the right to know how the commonwealth of the State is being expended in the delivery of public goods.
“The CAR template is a joint effort of the OGP component of the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability And Sustainability (SFTAS,) Program for results and the FCDO PERL Program.”
“The State government to make governance Open, has been hosting the meeting to keep up with the Citizen’s report which details the government’s performance in carrying out the duties assigned to it and the utilization of funds in the coffers of the government.”
The objective of the CAR is to simplify and present the financial report in a manner that is digestible for citizens and to facilitate citizen’s engagement with the government for improved service delivery and society development.”
‘The goal is to foster a greater understanding on the part of the citizens on how the public fund is spent and also increase government’s accountability in the spending and management of public funds.”
In his remarks, the Citizen Co-Chair of Open Government Partnership(OGP,) Mr Mubarak Abdulganiyi Al-Ameer expressed delight for the meeting, saying that it is a gathering that showcases a collective commitment to transparency and participatory governance in the State.
According to him, the release of the Citizens Accountability Report which encompasses the financial reports of the State’s Auditor General, marks a significant milestone in the journey towards an open and accountable government.
He noted that the report was not only a financial document, but a representation of the link of their shared values and aspirations for a transparent and responsible administration.
The Co-Chair also commended the State Auditor General and Accountant General, the Ministry of Finance, all other MDAs, and their team for their meticulous work in auditing and presenting the financial statement.
He also extended his heartfelt appreciation to all Civil Society and organizations and Citizens who have actively participated in this process. Their diligence and integrity are vital in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accountability is at the forefront of our governance practices.
“Today, as we witness the fruition of collaborative effort between reformers in government and non-state Actors, CSOs, and the citizens of Kaduna State, this partnership is crucial in ensuring that our governance processes are transparent and that public resources are managed prudently for the benefit of all.”
“Our engagement and oversight are indispensable in holding our leaders accountable and in promoting a culture of transparency.”
“As we reflect on the findings and recommendations within this report, let us remain steadfast in our resolve to implement necessary reforms and to address any gaps identified.”
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that this insight translates into actionable steps that improve governance and enhance the quality of life for every citizen of Kaduna State.”
“In conclusion, we reaffirm as Civil Society to continue advocating for oneness, accountability, and Citizen participation as it has been captured as one of the major pillars of the current Administration and together we can build a Kaduna State that exemplifies the highest standards of governance that will serve as a model for others to follow.”
