El-Rufai signs N216.55bn 2018 budget
Governor Nasir ElRufai of Kaduna State yesterday signed the 2018 budget of the state into law.
The governor said the budget prioritized the interest of many over those of the few stressing that the ‘radical actions’ it is taking in the education sector, to which N33 billion had been allocated, considers the future of two million primary school pupils as being above whatever contention 22,000 unqualified teachers might raise.
He said his government would not be deterred from its quest to provide decent education within safe and standard school environments using qualified teachers.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to sign the budget, El-Rufai said for three years running, the Kaduna State Government’s financial year would begin on the first day of January.
The 2018 budget is N216.55bn, of which N131.1bn is for capital expenditure which represents 60.54% of the budget while the recurrent projection is N85.44bn.
“We have deliberately tagged the 2018 Budget as the Budget of Consolidation. It is the last full annual budget before the 2019 elections, and it is designed to complete the many projects we have commenced in the service of our people,” he stated.
He said there were 443km of township roads and 16 intercity roads with a distance of 414.8km at various stages of completion in addition to 17 rural feeder roads with distance of 172 kms being constructed.
“There are many schools being rebuilt, hospitals being upgraded and equipped, water works being refitted, rehabilitation centres being fixed,” he added.