It is commendable that the Kaduna state government has been consistent in making public the quarterly budget performance reports.
However, the Quarter 3 Budget Performance report showed that the 2021 approved budget was revised.
The document shows that the 2021 approved capital expenditure of N164,610,200,280 was revised downwards to N164,403,200,280 with a variance of N207,000,000. While the recurrent expenditure of N82,057,386,938 was increased to N82,264,386,938 (by N207,000,000).
Similarly, in the health sector, N39,340,232,117 was approved in the original budget but has been revised downwards to N38,125,074,654, with a variance of N1,215,157,463. The variance was gotten from the capital expenditure which was revised downwards from N26,234,076,969 to N25,018,919,506.
This has raised a number of questions begging for answers. One, when was the budget revised? Two, was the civil society engaged in the spirit of transparency? Three, what necessitated the revision in line with the principles of accountability?
As one of the leading Open Government Partnership (OGP) sub-nationals globally, it is imperative that the government is seen to be robustly involving civil society, beyond intermittent consultations, especially during such revision of the budget.
Lets engage, ask the right questions and hold the government accountable.
