Jagaba on Gov el-Rufai's 2020 Budget

Fallout of lopsided implementation of state budget in the education sector

By Nasiru Jagaba

jagabanasiru@gmail.com

Let me start by commending the Governor of Kaduna state for being consistent in maintaining the January to December budget year. This provides some high level of fiscal and economic sustainability in the State. My commendation may come as a surprise to many who know that I have been a consistent critic of his government as the national youth Leader (out-going now) of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU).

My stand has not changed as I remain a dogged fighter of injustice regardless of its form of manifestation. However, in analyzing governance, one must uphold a higher level of objectivity by appreciating progress (no matter how small) while fighting for fairness, equity and justice.

That aside, I have committed myself to tracking governance in Kaduna state and Nigeria to ensure that the right of citizens to development is guaranteed.

As many of us are aware the 2020 draft budget has been presented to the Kaduna State House of Assembly by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe. It is now expected that the Assembly will scrutinize the appropriateness and distribution of the N257,908,819,733.66 budget made up of recurrent allocation of N67,877,232,798.52 and capital expenditure of N190,031,586,935.14.

Looking at it from the surface, one is tempted to acknowledge the effort of the government in maintaining a ratio that favors capital expenditure (with the recurrent expenditure not exceeding 30% over the past five years). Again the capital expenditure proposed this year is about the highest ever.

However, on deeper interrogation one's excitement will be depressed, as budget performance over the years has left little to be desired.

So also, if one considers the lopsidedness in the spread of development in the State; while the Northern side (pre-dominantly Hausa/Fulani Muslims) of the State enjoy government presence, the Southern Kaduna(pre-dominantly non- Hausa/Fulani Christian) area is glaringly left to suffer for supposedly not being in the good books of the Governor.

This has fueled more mutual mistrust and suspicion between the people of Southern Kaduna and the Governor than any other time in the history of the State. It is not in contention that the Governor has never hidden his disdain for the region, even when he should be a father for all.

It is in view of this brief highlights above that I challenge the government of Mallam Nasir Ahmed Elrufai to:

1. make public the breakdown geographical spread (Kaduna North, Central and South Senatorial zones) of the sectorial budgets of Kaduna state from 2016-2019;

2. show the breakdown geographical spread (Kaduna North, Central and South Senatorial zones) of the sectorial budgets performance of Kaduna state from 2016-2019 (mid-year);

3. show the number of projects started and completed in each of the three Senatorial zones from 2016 to 2019;

4. show us one community in Southern Kaduna or largely non-Hausa/Fulani that has received his developmental attention in comparison to Rigasa, Ungwan Dosa etc;

5. make public the geographical spread of how the government intends to spend the N190,031,586,935.14 proposed Capital expenditure;

6. also, the N45,473,026,469.45 external loan, how much is each Senatorial zone is getting.

7. Other issues are that: the 2020 budget is proposing to spend over 30 billion naira on roads, can the Governor also make public the geographical distribution of the roads to be constructed;

8. finally, there are rumors that Kaduna is worst off today in all health indicators compared to before 2015 despite huge donor funds spend; can the government comes out with evidence to dispel this rumors.

I will stop here, and challenge the government to demonstrate publicly in action its rhetorics of being pro-people, fair, equitable and just to all sections of the State. The government is said to be a pacesetter in governance reforms that promote transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizen's engagement. Now is the time to proof it as not being stage-managed to hoodwink the international community.

The good people of Kaduna state, Nigerians and International communities await your response on the above issues raised.

Jagaba who writes from Kaduna is the President, Network for the Rights of Indigenous and Marginalized People.

Comments

Coalition cautions against Nigeria's Disunity

N etwork for Better Nigeria, a coalition of concerned Civil Society Organizations in the 19 Northern States has responded to the growing tension threatening national unity and socio-economic development of the country and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently collaborate with the governors in the 19 northern states and critical stakeholders to arrest the lingering insecurity in Nigeria. In a joint statement signed by Mallam Isiaku Abdulhameed, the coalition in collaboration with Arewa Youth Consultative Youth Movement, Arewa Youth Assembly and Chanchanta stated inter Alia: "the Federal Government should urgently collaborate with the Northern State Governors and come up with a modernistic livestock development policy which will not only provide solutions to the herders/farmers crises but transform the age long traditional open grazing towards providing additional economic value for pastoral communities. Equally, we wish to express our support on the position...

Environmentalists re-strategize on governance

A cross-section of environmental strategists at the event Lack of good and well-intentioned environmental governance and social audit for effective monitoring and evaluation of data and procurement have been identified as the major impediment against the climate change campaign in Kaduna state. A leading member of Network of Civil Societies in Environment, Gloria Kasang Bulus, who made this known during a one-day capacity building platform for critical stakeholders working around environment - strengthening the technical working groups; to develop or use tools required for effective engagement with government, urged participants to volunteer wholeheartedly in the task ahead - to mitigate climate change. Bulus who is also the Director, Bridge that Gap Initiative and convener of the network noted that, "Unless and until we are able to partner the government in ensuring outcomes in tandem with the people oriented policies, plans, appropriations; we will be doing next...

Open Budget: Kaduna seeks citizens' input in 2020 Budget

F ollowing sustained campaign by concerned citizens and critical stakeholders in Kaduna state to open up the budget cycle, the Governor el-Rufa'i-led administration, during the week, engaged the representatives of the academia, community-based organizations, the civil society, women groups and individuals on state's 2020 to 2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework(MTEF) to make next year's budget budget realistic and realizable. The event tagged 'Citizens Consultations on 2020-2022 MTEF' which was put together by the state's Planning and Budget Commission with the support of DFID-funded Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), took a critical look at strategies to forge a people-centered budget with emphasis on transparency, openness and accountability. Co-chair of the Open Government Partnership(OGP) in the state, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare told participants that as a sub national, Kaduna state was indeed a trail brazer in nation's quest ...

Environmentalists intensify action against global warming!

A cross section of the Network of Civil Society in Environment being welcome by the commissioner (Centre) I n a bid to cushion the increasing adverse effects of global warming on the environment, non-state actors under the aegis of Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE), during the week in Kaduna, sought for a robust partnership with the state's Environment and Natural Resources Ministry to address numerous environmental challenges facing the state. Receiving the group who were on an advocacy visit to the Ministry, the Honourable Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ibrahim Garba Hussain expressed delight over the renewed move to mitigate environmental degradation and pledged his support for the initiative. "Climate change is all as result of the activity and action of man. It might interest you to know that the Ministry has put together a comprehensive policy document on environment. That is why I am very pleased to welcome you peo...

SEMA engages Zaria communities on disaster risk reduction strategies

Executive Secretary, Abubakar Hassan (center) and his team at Zaria By EDDY OCHIGBO V ulnerable communities and wards in and around Zaria and its environs have been sensitized and strengthened to tackle possible disasters, ranging from gully erosion, insecurity, fire and rape vis-a-vis the ongoing environmental hazards awareness campaign across Kaduna state. Keen watchers believe that the move - which is aimed at system strengthening on emergency coordination and response strategy - in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development's Nigeria Early Recovery Initiative (NERI) would drastically reduce peoples' vulnerability and possible disasters in the state. "To prevent disasters, we must get the people equipped and prepared to understand what constitutes hazards, risks etc., as well as what they should do to identify early warning signs and signals. The exercise is taking place in all the wards and communities in Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari, Zaria Ci...

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog