Masari weeps, presents N288.63bn budget estimate to Katsina Assembly

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on Tuesday, presented N288.63bn budget estimate for the 2023 fiscal year amid tears.

During his presentation of the budget before the Katsina State House of Assembly, Governor Masari was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion and began to shed tears as that would be his administration’s last budget presentation before his tenure comes to an end early 2023.

Masari has spent two terms of eight years in office.

According to him, “As you are all aware, this is the last time I will stand here before the Honourable Members of Katsina State House of Assembly to present the draft annual budget for the Katsina State Government.

“This budget is therefore designed to consolidate on the achievements we recorded as Government of Katsina State in the last seven and a half years.”

The total budget for the 2023 fiscal year is in the sum of N288,633,257,963.00 with 63.77% Capital Expenditure and 36.23% Recurrent Expenditure.

“In aggregate terms, the 2023 budget is lower than that of the 2022 revised budget by N34,662,962,998.00. The 2023 Budget is structured with a total recurrent expenditure of N104,580,485,996.28 which is equivalent to 36.23% of the total budget and capital expenditure of N184,052,771,966.72 which is 63.77% of the total budget.”

The governor said the 2023 budget tagged, “Budget of Transition,” was designed to complete ongoing projects and initiate other capital projects that can be completed before the end of his tenure.

The lion’s share of 17.25 per cent went to Environment and followed by water resources at 15.87 per cent and health at 13.03 per cent. Others are works, 11.41 per cent; education, at 10.12 per cent and agriculture at 7.39 per cent while other MDAs got 24.93 per cent.

Masari noted that his administration had fulfilled most of its campaign promises on education; health; agriculture; water resources; environment as well as roads and infrastructural development under the restoration agenda.

Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly, Tasiu Musa Maigari, in his remarks, assured Governor Masari that the House will waste no time in examining the proposed estimates with exceptional diligence so as to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“Let me, therefore, call on the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to appear before the House Committee on Appropriation to defend their estimates and strictly adhere to the Budget Defence timetable that will be sent to them soonest,” he said.