The Kano State House of Assembly has approved the downward review of the 2020 budget of the 44 Local Government Areas in the state from N216 billion to N151 billion.
The assembly approved 30 oer cent downward review of the budget during its plenary on Monday presided by the Speaker, Alhaji Abdulazeez Gafasa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ammendment followed the adoption of a report by the Chairman of a joint Committee of Local Governments and Chieftaincy, and also that of Appropriation, Alhaji Hamza Massu.
Massu said the ammendment was sequel to the request presented to the house by the state’s Ministry for Local Government Affairs in a letter dated Sept. 28, and signed by the state’s Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Murtala Sule-Garo.
“The proposed amendments suggest a downward review of the total estimates by 30 per cent representing an aggregate reduction of N64 million, according to Section 69 (1c) of the 2006 Local Government Law as amended.
“The review proposes for the movement of N2.2 billion to security and local government elections, translating to a contribution of N50 million each sourced from the overhead cost of the 44 LGAs for the upcoming elections scheduled for early 2021,” Massu said
According to him, the amendment become necessary due to economic challenges posed by dwindling revenue cassioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the plenary, the Kano State Free and Compulsory Universal Basic and Secondary Education Bill 2019, scaled second reading.
Majority Leader of the House, Kabiru Hassan-Dashi (APC- Kiru Constituency), noted that the bill was brought before the house by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje for legislative processes.
The state government was committed to the development of education which initiated the programme: “Kano Free and Compulsory Education” to make it efficient.
“The Bill contains 13 sections, one of the fundamental laws of the section is that the Kano State Government will sponsor all children from primary to xecondary school free and compulsory.
“Pertaining staff of education at all level, anybody who collects any amount either from parents or students will pay the sum of N20,000 as penalty.
“Parents who refuse to send their children to school will be charged either one month imprisonment of the sum of N20,000 as penalty.” Hassan-Dashi said.
Also, the House approved the appointment of Bala Lawan as Commissioner Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).
The legislation followed the adoption of report by Tasi’u Zabainawa (APC-Minjibir), Chairman House Committee on KANSIEC and Deputy Majority Leader of the House.
Gov. Ganduje, on Oct.13, sent a letter to the House to screen and confirm Bala Lawan as KANSIEC commissioner.
The House presided over by the Speaker, Abdul’azeez Gafasa, after deliberations on the appropriation Committee, adopted the report and adjourned plenary to Oct. 20.
