Isiyaku Ahmed
In 2021 Kano citizens input into the state budget stood at 21%, out of the total capital expenditure of the prioritized sectors (education, health, water, agriculture, infrastructure, women affairs and rural and community development).
The Coordinator, Kano Budget Working Group (KBWG), Safiyanu Lawal Bichi said for 2022, with support from PERL –FCDO, his group collaborated with Ministry of Planning and Budget and embarked on robust engagement to strengthen and broaden citizens participation and inclusivity in the budgetary processes.
“This is considering provision of reform initiative and the benefits Kano stands to benefit from the incentives provided by World Bank- Performance for Result Initiative through SFTAs, so the percentage is estimated to be 25%, at the end of the exercise,” he added.
The 2022 budget planning meeting with stakeholders aimed at interacting with organized private sector and wider citizens’ groups and to chart ways of attaining Open Government Partnership (OGP) fiscal transparency commitment on participation and inclusion.
KBWG serves as an umbrella body that engages and provide direction, coordinate and mentored Community Based Organizations from across the 44LGAs, some village heads and other civic actors.
So, for the year 2022 budget preparation the group, targets the organized private sector, professional bodies, trade unions and people with special needs to provide guidance on inclusion of their constituents demands into the budget.
If they inputs are properly enumerated, it might address the economic and other challenges faced by the sector and the citizens at large, as more sectors were taken into consideration including Ministry of Commerce et al.
The exercise has direct linkage with some commitments under fiscal transparency in the OGP State Acton Plan II.
Making contribution during the session, the Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Kano/Jigawa branch, Alh. Sani Hussaini Saleh applauded the initiative of reaching out to private sector as the drivers of the economy.
He solicited for more collaboration and partnership in achieving the desired objectives while stressing for more attention around the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas project which needs to be given the needed attention it so deserved.
In his submission, the representative from KACCIMA, Vice Chairman, Cooperatives, Alhaji Hassan Yaro called on the participants to ensure issues around E-business received government attention by making budgetary provision to accommodate such emerging trade.
Alhaji Lamin Aliyu from the Kano State Traders Association is of the opinion that attention should also be given to major markets that operate on weekly basis considering the huge potentials and value they add to the state economy.
He also stressed on the need to make budgetary provision for standardizing such markets with amenities and infrastructural development.
Participants at the meeting actively contributed to the citizens’ demand generation process and resolved to go back to their members to gather pressing inputs that deserves government attention.
The meeting also had the Chairman, Kano State Transport Forum, Alhaji Ashiru Umar, the representative of Association of Professional Bodies, Dr. Kabiru Hamisu Kura, the State Chairman, JONAPWDS, Engr. Shaga (Bashir Bawa), Kano state OGP Secretariat and other stakeholders.
