Stories by ABDULLAHI D. ABDULLAHI,ADAMU
ABDULLAHI & ALIYU YUSUF
GOVERNOR Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano state yesterday
presented the 2005 Appropriation Bill to the tune of N41.6 billion to state
House of Assembly.
In his presentation speech, the governor explained that
the budget is made up of N22,056,065,832 as recurrent and N19,485,208,308
for capital expenditures respectively.
Malam Shekarau pointed out that the proposed budget
tagged: �Economic Development and Empowerment Budget�, the lion share of
N5.47 billion was proposed to the agricultural sector to boost the programme
of mass food production initiated in the 2004 budget.
According to him, the sum of N4 billion is set aside for
the production and procurement of assorted fertilizers for sale to farmers
at subsidized rate and N450 million as state counterpart contribution on
joint finance projects with local government councils, while N96 million is
earmarked for irrigation scheme.
Water supply got the sum of N4.3 billion earmarked for
the construction of new water treatment plant and rehabilitation of the
various supply facilities in the state.
Malam Shekarau stated that in keeping with his
administration�s pledge to address the problem, the government has decided
to accord top priority to water supply in the coming fiscal year.
He explained that the sum of N2 billion is set aside for
the construction of 100-150 million litre per day water treatment plant at
Tamburawa, while another sum of N950 million is to be spent on re-inforcement
of trunk, reticulation and new distribution facilities.
The governor also noted that N253 million is being
proposed for variety of works at regional water supply schemes, while N70
million is set aside for extension of reticulation system to several towns
and villages and N284 million for the purchase of water treatment chemicals.
In its determination to rescue the educational sector,
Governor Shekarau declared that the sum of N1.76 billion is to be committed
to the capital development of the sub-sector in the year 2005, while the sum
of N1.2 billion was earmarked for the transport sector of the state.
Other sectors that received the attention of the
government according to the governor, include health which received the sum
of N360 million, rural and community development, N350 million and
environment which got N638 million for the execution of various capital
works during the 2005 fiscal year.
Social development, youth and sports sector was allocated
the sum of N515 million with the sum of N70 million dedicated to capital
work at Sharia and Zakat commissions and Hisbah Board, while N150 million
will be expended on awareness campaigns and initiatives on Societal
Reorientation.
Malam Shekarau further highlighted that the sum of N414
million is proposed for the promotion of Information Technology, non
governmental organisations, youth development and sports.
He noted that government would cater for the general administration
during the upcoming year in view of its challenges and obligations for which
the sum of N2.03 billion is proposed.
