Kaduna Assembly deliberates on N78bn budget for local governments

Allocations were given to salaries of local council staff and teachers.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Tuesday deliberated on the N78 billion 2013 budget for the 23 local councils in the state.

The Assembly, presided by its Speaker, Muazu Gangara, was told by the Majority Leader, David Umaru, after the bill had been considered for the second time, that N54.7 billion of the total budget would be for recurrent services.

Mr. Umaru said N14 billion would be spent on the salary of local councils’ staff and N22.3 billion on that of primary school teachers.

He added that only N23.3 billion was earmarked for capital projects, out of which N1.65 billion would be spent by the Development Areas and N2.9 billion on the procurement of farm inputs.

In his contribution, Bala Yunusa, representing Tudun Wada constituency, urged the assembly to scrutinise the capital provisions to ensure that no area was short changed.

Another member, Kantiok Irimiya of Zonkwa constituency, called for thorough investigation on the finances of the local councils.

Mr. Irimiya said the investigation would enable the house determine how funds appropriated to the councils were spent.

Mohammed Ali, representing Kawo constituency, expressed concern over the high cost of servicing workers at the expense of capital projects for communities.

“The house needs to seriously look into the matter so as to reduce high personnel cost.”

The Assembly referred the bill to its Committee on Appropriation for further legislative input.

(NAN)