By Abbas Bamalli
Kano – The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly Alhaji Abdullahi Ata says the state government has set aside over N4.8 billion in the 2018 budget for the execution of community based projects.
He disclosed this on Thursday when he declared open, a public hearing organised by the legislature on the 2018 budget proposal of over N233 billion for the fiscal year.
According to him, the amount was meant for the execution of community based projects across the 484 wards in the state, where each of the wards would receive N100 million.
Ata added that the newly introduced community based projects which was the collaboration of the legislature and the executive, was a sign that citizen’s contributions on the budget passage was yielding the desired result.
“I want to assure you that this amount proposed for the community based projects, will be used to carry out works that will benefit our people across the 44 Local Government Areas.
“I want to assure contributors that their views will not only be appreciated, but will also be considered with utmost respect.
“All the issues raised during the exercise will be thoroughly scrutinised, sorted out and eventually synchronised with other established facts by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations,’’ he said.
Ata explained to the participants that previous public hearings on budget have been of tremendous importance to the legislature.
According to him, the contributions did not only ease and facilitate the passage of the budgets, but also added value and credibility to the law making processes.
“I want to seize this opportunity to reiterate to the public that the House of Assembly does not arrogate to itself any degree of monopoly of wisdom.
“Therefore, our doors are always opened to accept and incorporate any contributions that we find to be of constructive nature,’’ the speaker said. (NAN)