ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOV. RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO FNSE OF KANO STATE ON THE OCCASION OF PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR 2014 BUDGET PROPOSAL TO KANO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON TUESDAY 24th DECEMBER 2013
COURTESIES:
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM.
All praises are due to Allah, The most Beneficent, and the most Merciful. May the peace and blessings of Allah (SWT) be upon our Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW), His Noble family and righteous companions.
2. Mr. Speaker let me begin by once again registering my condolences to this Honourable House over the unfortunate death of Hon. Ibrahim Abba Garko and Hon. Danladi Isa Kademi who lost their lives while serving the good people of Kano state. Equally, let me also convey on behalf of the Government our deep heartfelt condolences to the families and people of Kano State over the death of some prominent citizens of the state like Shiekh Ali Harazumi, Alhaji Ali Talle Kachako, Shiekh Isa Waziri, Sarkin Sharifai, Sheik Abubakar Dangoggo, Shiek Mudi Salga, Justice Halliru Abdullahi, Justice Sadi Mato Umar Abdul-Azeez Fadar Bege, as well as other sons and daughters of the state who lost their lives during the outgoing year. May Allah SWT reward them with Jannatul-firdaus.
3. May I also use this opportunity to congratulate our son and brother Kabiru Abubakar Musa and other winners for doing the state and the country at large proud by emerging the overall winner of the International Quranic Recitation Competition in Saudi Arabia, we pray that Almighty Allah bless them abundantly.
4. It gives me great pleasure and honour to be amongst this august gathering for the purpose of accounting for our stewardship and once again presenting the 2014 Proposed Appropriation bill before this Honourable House. This Proposal is borne out of the experience we have gathered, and extensive consultations with stakeholders that would Insha Allah translate our development plans into concrete actions.
5. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members would recall, while presenting the 2013 Budget of Economic Consolidation and Fiscal Discipline; that, we promised to curtail extra-budgetary spending and to effectively monitor income and expenditure of governsment in order to ensure budgetary discipline and transparency at all levels. I am glad to report that we have made tremendous progress in this regard. We are all living witnesses that a remarkable feat has been achieved in the area of revenue generation, infrastructure development, Education, Healthcare delivery, agricultural development, economic empowerment and institutionalization of community participation in Governance.
6. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, before I present details of the year 2014 budget proposal, permit me to use this opportunity to on behalf of the good people of Kano state congratulate the House for successfully passing 37 Bills in the last two and a half years. And also express our sincere appreciation to you for the harmony, which has continued to exist between the State Legislature and other arms of government. This stability has made it possible for us to deliver on the promises we made to our people.
7. Mr. Speaker, let me quickly review the modest performance of the 2013 Budget before presenting the policies and programmes of the year 2014 for the consideration of this Honourable House.
Year 2013 Approved Budget Performance (January – October)
8. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the 2013 Approved Budget of Economic Consolidation and Fiscal Discipline with focus on consolidating the gains of 2012 Budget for Economic Restoration and Development has a total size of N238, 504,929,019 with revenue of same size. The 2013 budget dedicated 25% for the recurrent expenditure and 75% for capital development with a total of 888 projects across all the sectors.
9. The budget has a total Recurrent Expenditure of Fifty nine billion, seven hundred and ninety four million eight hundred and twenty seven thousand Naira (N59, 794, 827, 000); while capital expenditure had N178, 830,102,019 allocations. It was a balanced budget in terms of revenue and expenditure estimates. The spirit behind our disposition in this regard was to show our commitment to fiscal discipline. The Year 2013 Budget no doubt focused on achieving Fiscal Consolidation and discipline through aggressive revenue collection, prudent management of resources and investment in key priority sectors.
10. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform this House that we remain steadfast in keeping with the pledge to commit ourselves to the pursuit of prudent and accountable leadership. We have concluded the plan to rebase the State’s economy that would facilitate better-informed economic policy and decision-making.
11. Mr. Speaker, in summary the general performance of the 2013 Approved Budget stood at 62% from January to October 2013 with a total revenue performance of 67% within the period under review. It is expected to increase sharply to the range of 85 to 95 percent between November to December 2013 respectively.
12. At this point, I find it pertinent to highlight some sectoral accomplishments recorded in the outgoing year.
Education
13. Mr. Speaker, with all sense of modesty, our administration has made considerable progress in this sector, particularly in the areas of provision of additional classroom blocks, 400 staff houses across the State, provision of 188,933 furniture to 656 schools as well as to 11,020 teachers, wall-fenced 150 primary schools. All these are in an effort to address the problem of transition from Primary to Junior Secondary Schools, and from Junior to Senior Secondary Schools in addition to provision of instructional materials, sporting facilities and many more.
14. In a bid to address manpower challenges, our administration has continued with the sponsorship of indigenous students to pursue various undergraduate and post graduate programmes at home and abroad. A more elaborate government commitment in this regard includes:
• Sponsored 1,664 students for their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees abroad and in private universities in Nigeria expending well over N4.5 Billion. It is pertinent at this point to inform you that some of our postgraduate students have already secured employment with reputable organizations abroad and a batch of 502 students will also be leaving for studies abroad very soon.
• Our free school pupil feeding and provision of two free sets of uniform have engendered the tripling of our school enrolment figures. To this end, now total enrolment in Kano according to the recent school census stood at 2,497,608 pupils.
• We established the first model Bi – lingual college at Republic of Niger with 201 students at inception.
• We have established an E-Learning centre at the Governor’s College and are in the process of setting up more e-centres at least one in each Local Government Area in partnership with a Canadian NGO.
• Re-introduction and construction of Shehu Minjibir Boarding Primary School in Minjibir Local Government.
• Constructed about 2,000 classrooms and 1000 offices at the cost of over N7 Billion.
• Fenced over 150 schools and 400 Kwankwasiyya houses at the cost of about N2 Billion.
• Constructed 5 new mega Secondary Schools that include Governor’s College, Dan’gwani, Dan Hajja, Jambaki and First Lady College at the cost of about N3.5 Billion.
• Converting the Cotton Ginnery at Chalawa into the Kano Chinese College.
• We are also converting the Mariri Rehabilitation Centre into a Girls Boarding Secondary School.
• Likewise, we are converting the Psychiatric hospital Aisami into a Secondary School.
• The State’s College of Education Technical Minijibir, which will feed our 44 Technical Colleges with the needed manpower, is under construction.
• We are in the process of constructing and equipping 300 computer rooms in 300 schools, 300 modern Libraries and 300 state-of-the-art laboratories of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in 100 schools at the cost of over N3 Billion
• Established 23 skills acquisition and training institutes and alongside the North West University.
Healthcare Delivery
15. The State Government is making steady progress to ensure improved healthcare delivery in spite of challenges facing the sector largely due to our population size and continuous influx of people into the State from neighboring States and beyond; but Alhamdulillah:
• One important landmark here is the introduction of Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach Services using our newly acquired fully equipped ambulances aimed at conveying medical services to communities living in remote areas of the State as well as mobile antenatal services to women. This programme has impacted positively on our people.
• Our routine immunization and eradication of various communicable diseases, by our administration has entered into agreement with Dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations on strengthening routine immunization for polio and other deadly diseases. At this point, I wish to call for the support of the general public towards kicking polio out of Kano.
• N500 million was used to procure specialized medical equipment and other consumables.
• N 1.2 billion was spent to procure Anesthetic machines and other sophisticated medical equipment.
• Our partnership with MDG has yielded results in terms of rehabilitation of 5-General Hospitals at Gwarzo, Dambatta, Bichi, Gaya and Rano to referral services for their immediate communities. While Wudil, Kura and T/Wada are under way.
• In a related development quite a number of primary health care centres are being renovated in 9 LGAs under our partnership with MDGs.
• After opting out from the loan agreement with the World Bank on the malaria control programme; our government subsequently offered to fund the programme by providing a budget line of N200 million towards the control and prevention of malaria. It is also gratifying to note that the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with relevant stakeholders has developed a comprehensive 2013 Malaria Annual Operational Plan which clearly outlined all the necessary inputs to fight the scourge of malaria in Kano State including support from the development partners.
• In order to address the dearth of medical personnel in our health facilities our government is establishing the Kano College of Nursing & Midwifery at Madobi and Kano Institute of Post Basic Midwifery at Gezawa this is in addition to the sponsorship of 100 females to study medicine abroad.
• Furthermore, 50 Nurses have been sponsored for training in Nursing Education in Egypt who will on return teach and man these two Institutes at Gezawa and Madobi LGA.
16. Furthermore, Government has taken decisive measures to ban unwholesome sale of drugs and other medical consumables in all parts of the state especially the Sabon Gari market through the establishment of a two Special Task Force headed by the NDLEA on the one hand and the NAFDAC on the other. This has led to the confiscation and destruction of fake drugs worth over N3 billion in the outgoing year. Our resolve to fight these drug barons still remains resolute.
17. The Kiru Reformatory Institute, one of the 24 Institutes established in the last two and a half years is reforming and rehabilitating these drug users. Similarly, in order to reduce the vulnerability of our people living in rural areas, government has trained over 2,400 of our People both male and female to establish patent medicine stores in the state under the popular Lafiya-Jari Programme; all are done in our effort to sanitize sales of drugs and related products in the state as well as create jobs.
Security Imperatives
18. We remain conscious of the consequences of security challenges, which for us are not limited to security of life and property but also involve employment security, food security, education etc. This explains our vigorous drive in the areas of job creation, education and agriculture. The ban on commercial motorcycle “Achaba” has further aided in promoting our security. On the other hand, this year has afforded us a period of relative peace in the State as evidenced by the continued decline in crimes and other forms of breaches to societal peace as well as the revival of commercial activities in line with our efforts.
19. Distinguished members, the Kano Corporate Security Institute Gabasawa as one of our 24 Institutes established by this administration has since graduated its first and second sets the third set of 400 female students will very soon complete their training.
20. This is indeed an achievement worthy of note and we should continue to pray for its sustenance. I would like to state here that towards contending with the security menace; we would at our level continue to extend all necessary support to the security agencies in the State through provision of facilities, feeding/allowances and logistics. So far, from January 2012 to date, we have expended well over N2.5 billion to this effect and with the leave of this Honourable House we have signed into law the Kano Security Trust Fund Law.
Infrastructure:
21. Mr. Speaker, our commitment to the provision and improvement of infrastructure has manifested in the award of contracts for the construction of flyover bridges along State road – Kofar Nassarawa and Ibrahim Taiwo road (near Gidan Radio Kano) covering a distance of 780 metres with 5 clovers at the cost of N5.9 billion is at an advanced stage of completion, while a second flyover bridge along Murtala Muhammad Way starting from Lagos street junction to Triumph roundabout covering a distance of 1.760km with 9 clovers at the cost of N10.1 Billion. Already, the contractors have mobilized to site and work has commenced earnestly.
22. This is in addition to the construction of overhead pedestrian bridges at various locations like Sa’adatu Rimi College of Eduction, Kurna Makaranta, Kurna Babban Layi, BUK road at Aminu Kano College of Legal Studies and at BUK old Campus at the total sum of N185 million.
23. Similarly, construction of Security Plaza Gates (with HD Scanners) is ongoing along Zaria road at Karfi, Dambatta road near Bandirawo City, Maiduguri road at Rijiyar Gwangwan, at Dawanau on Bichi road and Zaria road near College of Education at the total cost of over N500 million are among few impressive undertakings mentioned.
24. Our intention to uplift the socio-economic development of the State and reduce the high unemployment rate to a minimal level has necessitated the Government’s effort to sign contract for the provision of Hydro Electricity generation of 35mw of electricity at Tiga and Challawa dams. The 35 Megawatts Independent Power Plant will cost the state government N14.2 Billion and will be fully financed from the governments treasury and already contractors are on site.
25. Other milestone achievements include:
• The setting aside of N2.2 Billion as constituency project funds to be facilitated through members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
• The 6.67km dual carriage Wuju Wuju way constructed on the Jakara River at the cost of N5.5 billion alongside the payment of compensation of over N3 billion is on going.
• Constructing a 220Km (5km in each of the 44 LGA) dual carriageway roads complete with streetlights at the cost of about N80 billion.
• The government has expanded some major roads and laid interlocks to beautify their sidewalks this include Gwarzo road, Zaria road, Hadejia road, Sheikh Ja’afar road, Airport road, Sharada road, Ribadu road etc. at the cost of over N31 billion.
• Installed and rehabilitated street and traffic lights on all major roads to enhance security of lives and property at the cost of over N2.1 billion.
• Rehabilitation of collapsed culverts along Sumaila to Saya-Saya road, Gani – Dagora road both in Sumaila LGA and Panda – Albasu road in Albasu LGA at the cost of about N200 million.
• Construction of multi-cell box culverts at Kazaurawa and Gana bridge in Rano LGA and at Kuki in Bebeji LGA, Gulu Rimin Gado LGA at the sum about N400 million.
• Completion of 6 no. Bridges and road construction at Janguza – Durum – Kabo – Karaye, Karaye – Rogo – Makarfi roads at the cost of over N5 billion.
• Re-construction of Chalawa Bridge in Kumbotso LGA at the cost of N581 million.
• Dualization of Sani Abacha to Madobi Bridge phase I at the cost of N1.379 Billion.
• Construction of Hawan Ganji – Sabon Layin Kara – Badari – Kadari road at the cost of N462 million.
• Construction of Kwankwasiyya Ring drainage at some lunguna within the metropolitan like Gabari lungun Yan’alewa – Kasuwar Kurmi, Karofin Zage – Haure, Titin Dokawa – Yan’awaki, Gidan Sani Hanga – Chiromawa, Tanki – Gidan Musa Guza Bakin Kasuwa, Majema to Kofar Wambai – Aminu Kano Islamiyya, Titin Tudun Nufawa – Kamfa, Karofin Kalwa – Gidan Shatima and at Kwankwasiyya city at the total cost of N563 million.
• Construction of 3 new cities, Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo with full infrastructure and modern facilities. The three cities are nearing completion and at this point Mr. Speaker; permit me to say that the 3 cities are available for interested buyers especially the good people of Kano state.
• Building 1,297 low cost houses for the poor and resettlement of flood victims at Warawa, Kunchi and Makoda Local Governments at the cost of about N1 billion.
• Preparations for construction work of a metro – line (light train) across the city has also reached an advanced stage.
• Establishment of Kano Roads Maintenance Agency (KARMA) to transform our roads and also serve as an agency responsible for the maintenance of our roads in the state. This is in addition to the routine rehabilitation of metropolitan roads by KNUPDA.
Water Supply
26. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, water supply remain an area that always attracts public concern. So much has been expended in this sector by successive governments in metropolitan Kano, semi – urban and rural areas. Pursuant to our policy of providing to at least 80% of our citizens with potable drinking water before the end of May 2015, we have awarded contracts for the supply and laying of 1000mm and 600mm diameter Ductile pipes from Joda to Gezawa up to Yan’Kaba, Watari to Tsanyawa and that of Tamburawa to Hotoro via eastern bypass to Hadejia road. Equally, same type of pipes and fittings are now supplied for the Kafin – Chiri to Sumaila water scheme covering a total distance of 158.5km across the state at a cost of over N13 billion.
27. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that, the inhabitants of Kurnar Asabe, Rijiyar Lemo, Mil-Tara and Kofar Ruwa areas and other towns and villages in Bichi, Dawakin Tofa, Fagge, Dala, Ungogo etc. who have been without pipe borne water for over fifteen years now have regular supply from the 50 million liters per day Watari water works.
Environment
28. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, another important challenge before us today is the threat posed to our environment by climate change being experienced globally.
29. In our bid to curtail the threat of flood and to improve drainage network in the state, the sum of N112 million has so far been expended for the construction of drainage for erosion control across the state and the following areas:
• Avenue road side tree planting;
• Kwankwasiyya Amana and Bandirawo Cities;
• Forest Nursery Development production of 2 million seedlings and
• Construction of drainages across the state
REMASAB has been strengthened with new vehicles and equipment that would reduce the incidence of flood and other attendant health hazards posed by poor drainage. Moreover, the agency has been empowered to employ required workers to ensure appropriate placement and deployment of the cleaners required to keep the city and its environs clean and healthy. Also, we have entered into public private partnership (PPP) with various refuse disposal companies towards this drive and our monthly sanitation is receiving attention and yielding positive result in the state. At this point Mr. Speaker, I salute the good people of Kano state for the compliance and ensuring the cleanliness of our society and I still wish to call on the general public to support and sustain the momentum.
30. While we are working on a final solution to the clogging of the Jakara drains which had hitherto served as Kano’s main drains. We have also in liaison with the Local Governments of the metropolis and community based organizations pursued with vigor the clearing and covering of our drainages.
Information, Sports and Culture
31. In line with our administration’s philosophy to ensure transparency and accountability in all spheres of government, we have continued to give information dissemination the necessary support to keep our people abreast of happenings regarding issues of public significance and State policies. To this end, we are able to:
• Ensure continued publishing of our weekly Executive Council resolutions in the national dailies and Kano state happens to be the only state in Nigeria that publish its weekly resolutions.
In the field of sports, it is now common knowledge that:
• Kano Pillars Football Club emerged Champions of the year 2012 and 2013 in the recently concluded National premier Globacom Football league.
• Kano Pillars Basketball Team was crowned Champions of the 2013 DSTV National Premier Basketball league. Having emerged victorious during the Final Four (4) play-offs in Lagos
• Also the Kano State Basketball Team (Kano Pillars) crowned as Champions of the West –Africa sub-Region.
• The Kano State Para-Soccer Team won the first position in the National Polio Para-Soccer Tournament, which took place in Abuja this year.
• Also Kano State Para-Soccer Team in a West-Africa Tournament emerged first position by winning all their matches.
• The establishment of the Kano Sports Institute in Kura Local Government and Kano Sports Academy near Kofar Na’isa as well as the Special Skills Sports Development Primary Schools are all clear demonstration of our commitment to reinforce the partnership between youth and sports development.
• Furthermore, the Kano Institute of Journalism will very soon commence operation.
Women and Youth Empowerment
32. Mr. Speaker, our administration is not oblivious about the plight of women arising from stereotype view of their group as mere housewives and unproductive sector of the society. The misconception has continued to breed unwholesome effects on the socio-economic fabric resulting in marital breakages and other social vices. To address this notion and accelerate women progress, our administration has in the outgoing year, carried out the following:
• Sponsored mass wedding of 2,461 Zawara, widows and spinsters across the state including Christians.
• In the area of youth and women empowerment, we have trained and empowered over 143,430 expending well over N3 Billion.
• In the same vain, we have just recently signed into Law the Street Begging Prohibition Law.
• Empowerment and training for less privileged women (divorcees, widows, HIV positive patients, deserted women, VVF patients and the Girl Child)
• Renovation of Social Homes and 21Nos. completed Cottage Industries
• Sensitization on VVF Behavioral Change
• Marriage Counseling Training Program for 44LGs.
Service Delivery
33. Our administration will continue to embrace reforms and programmes that would improve service delivery and general welfare of public servants. Government will continue to make available necessary facilities and incentives to all public servants to enable them carry out their statutory functions efficiently and effectively. Few of the significant milestones pertaining our commitment in this regard is the establishment of vehicle loan scheme to primary school teachers and staff of the judiciary, reviewed the minimum monthly pension from N135 to N5, 000, furnished and equipped 26 Magistrate and 27 Sharia Courts for efficient operation of the judiciary, ensured justice for all the citizenry and inculcating in them respect for law and order, re-introduced the House numbering and Street naming exercise, prompt payment of salaries on the 25th of every month, ensuring timely promotion, sale of government houses to civil servants, training and retraining of civil servants, special training programme for all retirees, employed well over 6,000 people and the creation of a State Statistical Bureau of which this esteemed house has since passed the law for its establishment.
34. Mr. Speaker, the general performance of the 2013 Appropriation bill stood at 62% from January to October 2013 with a total revenue performance of 67% within the period under review. This Budget has been implemented fully without any recourse to either domestic or foreign loans and as such translates our governments’ commitment to fulfilling its promises of judicious utilization of public fund thereby implementing the budget to the later.
35. Mr. Speaker, these are some few of our modest achievements in 2013 on our quest to make Kano a model of development in Nigeria.
Profile of the 2014 Budget:
36. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, having briefly reviewed the performance of the year 2013 Approved Budget may I at this point present to you the year 2014 Draft Appropriation Bill.
37. Honourable Members, the 2014 Budget is tagged “Budget of Consolidation”. It is indeed a Budget of total economic consolidation, as it is aimed at meeting the yearnings and aspirations of our people, anchored on our zeal to position Kano State at the forefront among the comity of states in Nigeria.
38. It is imperative Mr. Speaker, to begin by outlining the major policy thrust of the 2014 budget, which is anchored on the completion of the ongoing projects by dedicating 90% of the capital provision for completion of the ongoing projects, while 10% for new projects.
39. The direction of the 2014 budget will remain on the following:
• Infrastructural development,
• Aggressive revenue generation and strategic exit from debt finance by expanding and exploiting our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) potentials
• Youth/Women empowerment through capacity building and wealth creation
• Health and educational development
• Development of the real sector of the economy
• Continuation/strengthening of expenditure rationalization
• Strategic partnership between State and Local Government to finance long-term investment.
• Expanding and strengthening our investment profiles to discourage conspicuous consumption for better tomorrow.
40. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, let me emphasize here that our administration does not contemplate abandoning any of the on-going capital projects in view of the enormous resources already committed to establishing them. We owe it a duty to ensure prudent and judicious expending of the State resources and completing these projects in due course.
41. Mr. Speaker, after due consultations with all stakeholders and couple with revenue performance during the outgoing year, we are proposing an aggregate Budget of N219, 281,273,481 for the 2014. This is slightly lower than the 2013 budget with N19.2billion, which translates to 8%. It is a balance budget with revenue matching the same expenditure.
42. The 2014 budget has a projected recurrent revenue N126, 960,422,861 and capital receipt of N81, 526,211,850. It also has a recurrent allocation of N70, 621,425,720 and capital estimates of N148, 659,847,767. This represents a total of 68% capital and 32% recurrent estimate
43. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, let me at this juncture crave your kind indulgence to highlight some sectoral allocations for the 2014 fiscal year.
Education
44. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Capital Expenditure proposal for this sector is N20.85billion with allocations as follows:
• Ministry of Education N15.22billion;
• Ministry for Higher Education N5.61billion.
45. Mr. Speaker, in our collective resolve to drive a knowledge base economy, government has already concluded arrangement to adopt a free education for all indigene at all levels: primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state. This is in addition to sponsoring of Kano indigenes to pursue their various degree programmes locally and internationally. Permit me at this point to announce the commencement of the free education for all Kano state indigenes from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions starting from the new academic session in 2014.
46. Other policy programmes in 2014 fiscal year under education include:
• N6.5 billion for the continuation work at Schools for Islamic Studies in each of the 44 LGAs
• N2 billion for the continuation of 44 Technical Schools one in each LGAs;
• N241 million earmarked for the procurement of 15 mobile computing solar powered container box
• N250 million is for the establishment of another boarding primary school in the state.
• N1.3 billion for the Construction and furnishing of 268 additional classrooms in the state.
• N3 billion is earmarked for the continuation work at Northwest University including the construction of Faculty building, senate building and other infrastructure
• N586 million earmarked for the continuation work at former Magwan Water Restaurant to First Lady College
• Furnishing and supply of various science equipment to our secondary schools will consume N640 million.
Health
47. This administration would continue to resuscitate all state owned hospitals and other health institutions through provision of infrastructure, equipment and qualified personnel to ensure efficient healthcare delivery to our people. To achieve this, the government plans to spend the sum of N3.98 billion on capital projects.
48. Specifically, under our joint venture with MDGs to enhance health care services delivery at the rural areas, we have selected Kura, T/Wada and Wudil General Hospitals.
We have in addition planned to execute the followings:
• Continue renovation and rehabilitation of health institutions N250 million;
• Upgrading of PHC’s to cottage hospitals N100 million;
• Malaria control program N1.8 billion jointly with our partners (Dangote, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and DFID)
• Routine immunization in collaboration with Development partners N459 million;
• Free maternal and childcare N145 million.
Water Supply
49. Mr. Speaker, the government would intensify effort to ensure provision of potable water to all the people in the State. To this end, the sum of N5.88 billion will be expended on various programs as follows:
• Purchase of water treatment chemicals N600 million;
• Re-enforcement of trunks and reticulation system N250million;
• Continuation of Pipe laying from Tamburawa – Eastern Bye Pass – Hadejia road and Watari – Tsanyawa, Kafin Chiri -Sumaila and Joda – Kwanar Danja N3.72billion;
• Water supply and sanitation sector reform programme (WSSSRP) in collaboration with European Union/UNICEF N1 billion;
• Routine rehabilitation of Challawa water complex N270 million;
• Procurement and installation of 2Nos. KVA generating sets at Challawa water complex N113 millon.
Infrastructure
50. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, consistent with our determination to face up to the infrastructure challenges we inherited, Provision of Infrastructure has been the focus of this Administration and it is basically to facilitate easy movement of people thereby making business easier, attract investments, cheaper goods and services and accommodate/sustain the development as result of commercial growth in Kano Metropolis.
51. Government therefore proposes to spend N81.01 billion on development and improvement of infrastructure under Ministry of Works Housing and Transport as well as the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. Out of the total amount, the sum of N8.2 billion is for the completion of Silver Jubilee/Ibrahim Taiwo flyover and continuation of other giant flyover on Murtala Muhammed Way from Lagos street junction to Triumph Publishing Company roundabout. In addition we have earmarked N700 million for the construction of an under-pass road at Gadon Kaya and Kofar Kabuga; the first of its kind in this part of the country. Another sum of N14.70billion has been set aside for the completion of five major roads entrance to Kano namely: Zaria Road, Hadejia Road, Gwarzo Road, Sheik Jafar Mahmud Adam Road and Dan-agundi – Fanshekara Road.
52. Similarly the sum of N4.0 billion has been earmarked for the continuation of the channelization of Jakara River project popularly known as Wuju Wuju Way. This project is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it will minimize flood and erosion, expose miscreants who use the River as hideout, mitigate mosquitos and other environmental hazards; as well as open most of the deserted areas along the River for commercial activities, which will further expand more avenues in the metropolis.
53. Government will pursue with vigor the construction of Kwanar Mandawari to Isami to Aminu Kano Way, Sheik Mahmoud Salga Way from Jakara – Goron Dutse Way, Kwanar Yan’taya to Dandinshe, Hadejia – Dakata to Bela all within the city.
54. In the same vein, Construction of housing and provision of infrastructure at our cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo will continue to receive due attention. Therefore, this Administration planned to spend over N10.0billion in the completion of the construction of various categories of houses and provision of infrastructure, access road, drainages and provision of streetlight.
55. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, You will agree with me that, the era of darkness in Kano is now history, as streetlights along all of our major roads and all Government Buildings in the state are lightened throughout the night.
56. To further complement and restore back ailing industries, Government planned in partnership with Local Government to construct 35 megawatts Independent Power Plant at Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dam. It is expected when completed to provide 35 megawatts to be used for our water works and street lights, while at least 25 megawatts will be dedicated to industries and other manufacturing companies.
57. To stimulate development across the state, our administration embarked on the construction of 5 KM dualised road with streetlights and drainage in all the 44 Local Governments. To this end, the road construction in most LGAs had reached advanced stage of completion, therefore to complement our achievements; the sum of N25 billion is earmarked for the completion of the 5KM road projects.
58. Mr. Speaker, in an attempt to further speed up the completion of inherited projects; we have earmarked the sum of N4.85 billion for completion of several of these road projects spread across the state.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
59. Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Members of this Honourable House, we are determined to invigorate agricultural development to regain its past glory in the State. You could recall in this outgoing fiscal year, we earmarked the sum of N9.68 billion for the sector to cater for various undertakings that would facilitate increase in food production. I am glad to inform this honorable house that a significant milestone has been attained in this regard.
60. To consolidate on this, the sum of N2.5 billion is set aside to undertake the following:
• Development of agricultural skills acquisition Institutes N100 million;
• Fertilizer procurement and distribution N700 million;
• Leventis foundation agric school and tractarization programme N125 million;
• Prevention of zoonotic diseases and vaccination compaign against CBPR & PPR N20 million;
• KNARDA programmes including commercial agriculture credit scheme and animal traction/farm mechanization institute N1.14 billion;
• Kano Zoo and wildlife management agency N144.5 million.
• The above agricultural programmes will run alongside our empowerment training programmes in our agricultural institutes namely; Poultry Institute Danbatta, Fisheries Institute Bagauda, Farm Mechanization Institute Danbatta, Irrigation Training Institute Kadawa, Institute of Horticulture Bagauda, and Livestock Institute Bagauda.
Information and Communication Strategy
61. As part of our Administration’s commitment towards keeping our people informed of the various happenings within their immediate communities and beyond, the present Administration intends to spend the sum of N882.4million for the development of this sector, which comprises of ARTV, Radio Kano, Pillars Club and others.
Rural and Community Development
62. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members. In the continuing bid to lay infrastructural facilities to accelerate socio economic transformation in our rural areas, we proposed to expend the sum of N406.5 million in this sector as follows:
• Various projects/programmes of the ministry N105million;
• Rural electiricity Board N110million;
• RUWASA N191.5million.
Women and Youth Empowerment
63. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, we would continue to give this vital sector the necessary attention through initiating more skills acquisition programmes with emphasis on quality and relevance of the skills acquired to the trainees and our dear State. Consequently, the sum of N1.147billion is earmarked for projects and programmes in this sector as follows:
• Youth and Women empowerment programme;
• Renovation of schools/mosques;
• Establishment and equipping of 3-new cottage industries to be spread along the 3-senatorial districts.
Science and Technology
64. Mr. Speaker, acknowledging the far-reaching effect of continuous breakthrough in Science and technology today, precipitated our concern to ensure that our people and our dear state in general are not lost out in the race. In this regards we have installed V.SAT facility in all of our tertiary institutions and 25 Secondary Schools across the state.
65. To this end, the sum of N250 million is earmarked for various projects and programmes as follows:
• Provision of bandwidth and galaxy;
• Update of databank;
• Establishment of prototype laboratory and
• 197 pioneer students of our Informatics Institute will very soon go abroad for their top-up course in Informatics.
Commerce, Industry and Tourism
66. Mr. Speaker, our determination to rebase the State’s economy would be unattainable without effecting required reforms in this sector. Conscious of this fact, our administration has among many other things awarded a multi-billion-naira contract for the establishment of first State independent power plant at Tiga and Challawa. This effort would indeed revive our industries there by complement our employment generation effort.
67. Government is establishing 44 Garment Industries one in each of the 44 LGA of the State to generate employment and improve the economy of the State.
68. We will continue to accord due attention to commerce as the brand name of our dear State since time immemorial as well as tourism will equally receive due attention, which in the long run would be one of our goldmines.
69. Our focus for this fiscal year is as always provision of enabling environment for private sector participation. Government thus plans to spend the sum of N680million for execution of vital programmes/projects. Notable among these is the establishment of partnership between the KNSG and the bank of Industry in support of micro, small and medium enterprises. In addition, our Institute of Hospitality and Tourism is also receiving top priority.
Investment for the Future
70. Government has recorded tremendous progress in trimming down the size of the inherited debt, which is over N77 billion domestic debt and $200 million as foreign loan. Now the domestic debt has substantially been reduced to about N32 billion, while government has been trying to truncate debt financing by strategically exiting from same IDA loans financing agreements contracted by the last Administration.
71. Alternatively, our administration has embarked on expanding access to development finances by establishing 37 Nos. Micro Finance Banks and signed a strategic partnership agreement with the CBN to disburse N2 billion as loan to micro, small and medium enterprises in the State. On the other hand, Kano State has a total of $9.886 million as investment in the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority while the 44LGAs has a total of $10.3 million.
72. Government has set aside N3.8 billion for the execution of unforeseen development projects, which are vital but not captured in the 2014 budget.
73. Rt. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, our administration had within the last two made giant strides by investing more than N33.2 billion in key areas such as:
• Construction of three new cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo N17 billion;
• Registration of Micro Finance Banks in 37Nos. LGA Headquarters at the cost of N740 million
• Independent Power Project N14.2 billion;
• Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority N1.5 billion.
74. Distinguished Members of the Kano State House of Assembly, the investment we have made in various sectors from road infrastructure, power generation, access to finances through Micro Finance Banks and all other investment in education through foreign scholarship, health, agriculture and Small and Medium Enterprises were all made in good faith and to guarantee the economic sustainability of our state and the future of our children.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
75. I cannot conclude this address without reminding the Honourable members, that the forthcoming year is also another election period for Local Government Council. And we are all living witnesses to what happened during the last elections when the political atmosphere was characterized by violence, intimidation and other vices leading to loss of lives and property.
76. May I at this juncture, call on all well-meaning and patriotic people of Kano State to continue to be law-abiding and continue to shun any anti-social activities capable of disrupting the current peaceful atmosphere in the State. Let me assure citizens of Kano State that we will consistently pursue what is right in our collective resolve to move Kano State and its citizens forward. This is necessary if we are to achieve social and economic prosperity.
77. At this point Mr. Speaker and Honourable members, permit me to appreciate and thank the entire citizens of Kano State for the support and cooperation we received since our resumption in office in the last two and half years. I will also want to seize this opportunity to assure the good people of Kano State that this government will continue to be transparent and accountable and will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, corruption or embezzlement of public funds.
Implementation of 2014 Budget
78. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members; the 2014 budget of consolidation will not only consolidate our development efforts but will ensure prudence and efficiency in our expenditure programmes. Mr. Speaker, we intend to use the limited resources at our disposal to achieve maximum impact. All Ministries, Departments and Agencies are expected to ensure effective performance, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their functions.
79. The current governance structure has defined functions among various Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the development sectors. In spite of this delineation, the need for collaboration among all Government institutions as enshrined in our Development Plan has become increasingly important. We intend to achieve synergy through collaboration and integration of programmes and projects at all levels in order to realize our vision of making Kano the leading State in Nigeria.
80. Accordingly, the monitoring function of the Project Monitoring Directorate has been strengthened so as to ensure that all programmes and projects are being monitored at all times. This will be in collaboration with the State and Local Government Audit who would continue to keep vigil on all Government Financial transaction to ensure value for money. While the Ministry of Planning and Budget and Ministry of Finance would ensure strict adherence to the budget and fiscal discipline in the course of implementing the 2014 budget for better results.
81. At this point, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to our development partners the DFID, Dangote Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, ESPIN, the CBN and all other partners who have in one way or another contributed to the successes we have recorded during the year under review.
82. Honourable Members, Distinguish Ladies and Gentlemen, as we are presenting the 2014 appropriation bill before this Honourable House, permit me to recount the unfortunate incidence that happened yesterday when some people acting on orders from above and with impunity tried to intimidate this Honourable House from exercising its constitutional mandate through the abduction of its Principal Officers under the assumption that the representatives of the good people of Kano can be intimidated not to leave the PDP for our new party, the APC. This action is not only despicable and absurd but also capable of igniting crisis in the polity, thereby breaching the relative piece that is being enjoyed in Kano state.
83. While commiserating with the leadership and members of this Honourable House along side your families, friends, and all members of the APC, all democrats within and outside the country as well as the good people of Kano state. I urge us all to see this intimidation as a sacrifice to democracy, the state and the country at large.
84. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Memebers let me say that your release this evening vindicates our position that the truth will always prevail and I wish to assure you that the government and people of kano state will continue to support and work together to ensure that the enemy of our state is put to shame and by the Special Grace of Allah the Government and people of Kano will prosper against all odds.
85. Finally, I wish to call on all and sundry to give their maximum cooperation and support to our efforts of effectively charting a new course for the future of this great State. I am of firm belief that we have the potential in terms of human and material resources to excel in all facets of life in this country.
86. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, before I conclude this address let me once again acknowledge the invaluable contribution of this august House since our return to office in May, 2011. We are all living witnesses to the level of cooperation that exists between the executive and the legislature, which is a catalyst to the achievements we have recorded especially during the outgoing 2013 fiscal year. It is my hope that this spirit of cooperation will continue in our collective resolve to serve the people of Kano State and Nigeria in general.
87. Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, while craving the indulgence of this Honourable House for accelerated consideration, it is my pleasure to formally in the name of Allah the Most Merciful and Most High present an aggregate Budget of N219, 281,273,481 for the 2014 proposed Budget of Consolidation with capital estimate of N148, 659,847,767 representing 68% and recurrent allocation of N70, 621,425,720 representing 32% before this Honourable House for your deliberation and approval.
88. May Almighty Allah bless Government and Good people of Kano State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
89. I thank you all for listening.
90. Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Ta’alah, Wabarakatuh.
Signed:
Prof. Umar Farouk Jibril
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Internal Affairs,
Youth and Sport and Culture