By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Kaduna State government is planning to spend a total of N155 billion for the 2019 fiscal year.
The draft budget has over 64.4 billion for recurrent expenditure, representing 41.52 percent and N90.7 billion for capital projects, representing 58.48 percent.
On Sunday, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Muhammad Sani-Abdullahi, presented the draft 2019 budget tagged `Budget of Continuity’ to residents of the state at a town hall meeting in Kaduna for their inputs.
Mr Sani-Abdullahi explained that the budget was prepared against the macro-economic backdrop of pick up in global growth at 3.8 percent.
“We are here to present to you our 2019–2021 budgets which are is based on the Kaduna State Development Plan.
“You will recall that the plan was developed with your inputs and we have over the past three years’ took action on the plan through the budget.
“The budget is based on the gradual recovery from national recession as witnessed in a GDP growth of about 0.83 per cent and reduction in the inflation rate,” he said.
The commissioner explained that the key fiscal policy tool is the opportunity to insulate the economy from unforeseen negative shocks and turn the tide towards growth and development in the state.
“Total capital investment in 2016 was N62.2 billion compared to N27.6 billion in 2015, an increase of 125 percent. This is the highest capital investment in any one year in the history of democratic Kaduna State.
“In 2016, the recurrent expenditure witnessed a considerable reduction in personnel cost from N26.8 billion in 2015 to N21.8 billion in 2016, translating into a savings of over N5 billion, funds that were immediately reallocated to our works and education ministries,” he said at the town hall meeting.
Dipo Olowookere 
Adedapo Adesanya