The Kaduna State Government has stated that in next few years, it plans to stop relying on federal allocation to fund its budget.
Muhammad Sani, the state Commissioner and Chairman of the State Budget and Planning Commission, while making his remarks at the public hearing held at the Kaduna State House of Assembly on the 2022 appropriation bill submitted by the State Government stated that the state is progressing and in the next few years, it would provide for its infrastructure and other obligations with its own money so that whatever comes from the federal allocation will be an addition.
According to him, the state has been boosting its tax collections with about N57 billion which has come with a lot of hard work, stressing that it is in partnership with the Kaduna State House of Assembly towards the realization of its goal.
He explained, “In 2015 when this government came in, the highest that has been achieved was N13 billion annually and we are very happy today that we are at N57bn because of the continued support of the State House of Assembly and the first law that was passed was the consolidated law that was what opened the doors for the rise in internal revenue generation by the state.”
Sani further explained that the state government relies only on about 31 percent from federal allocation while some other states rely on 70-80 percent from federal allocation.
He stated that they have been able to move the state from a state that completely relies on federal allocation to one that is sustainable in order to carry out its programmes in the state.
He added, “When the government came in 2015 is that we must be able to fund our salaries from the money we realise within Kaduna which means that whatever happens from the federal government we will be able to take care of the salaries and other state’s obligations.”
The Commissioner observed that there are states that are owing five to eight months salaries, saying that they (states) rely on federal allocations.
The Commissioner stressed that it is important to note and understand that the state government would bring more and more bills to the House and more initiatives to state, saying that understanding revenue to the state is the most important thing to do.
He said since Gov El-Rufai presented the budget to the state house, it has been following up various processes to finalize a budget that is not only inclusive but sustainable.
