Budget Process and Provisions Under The Current Administration in Kogi State

The budget documents is the most important documents apart from the Constitution. It shapes the direction of the government and its activities encourage development and provide infrastructure for the people. In Kogi state the budget process is not inclusive and participatory by relevant stakeholders and particularly the people who the budget is meant for. the need of the people are mostly not intuned with the priority of the government. In Kogi state the budget process have always been between the executive and the legislature.

Every year, it has become a ritual that budgets must be prepared and approved and it is expected that such budgets is to be executed to offer succour to the people, give them hope, and salvation. But it is disturbing that relevant stakeholders like the civil society, whose strength is diversity in development, as several members of the civil society have different backgrounds. In 2016, it was a landmark that less than the required numbers of the state assembly, left the premises of the assembly for Government house to debate the budget meant for the state and prepared by the executive. A crucial look at that particular budget showed that several projects were executed without reference to that budget. It was also a known fact for me that is frequent and observant of the state assembly, that there was never a supplementary budget presented on the floor of the House. The fundamental question is thus; can the executive spend any money without appropriation by the legislature? It is worrisome, that those who took oath of office to protect, preserve, and uphold the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, are the ones that violate the provisions of such laws and the oath of office they took, by their selective adherence to the provision law.

In Kogi state, it is curious, regrettable that some of the provisions of the 2017 approved budget contained lots of repetitions, frivolous and unjustifiable expenses. In the current economic recession, and for a state that is not at war with itself, there is no justification for the appropriation of N8.35b for Security. And much more worrisome, these sums were not broken down to explain the items to be spent on. It only stated that these sums were for SECURITY VOTES AND OPERATIONS. How can the Legislature perform its oversight function on this budget line item and make its report to the public?

Moving on, is there any justification for “EXPENSES INCIDENTAL TO THE GOVERNOR’S TOUR” that should take N700m? Fumigation under government house would gulp N100m, Office Stationaries/Computer consumable N200m. the most disappointing aspect of this government house budget, is the provision of a line item called “EXPENSES INCIDENTAL TO HER EXECELLENCY’S TOUR” which would gulp a whooping N340m. despite the illegality associated with that office, a budget line provision was made and approved by the Legislature whose duty is to make law and protect the constitution. Furthermore we shall be waiting for the report of the oversight functions of this illegality by the relevant committees of the House of Assembly.

Despite the Maputo Declaration that stipulates that 10% of State Budgets should be allocated to the Agricultural sector, the Kogi State Budget for 2017 is just 4.6%, compared to the 24% allocated to the Government House. Agriculture provides employment and food security for the citizens and also generate revenue, while the government House will not generate a single kobo for the state!

A closer look at the some critical sectors like Ministries of Works, there is a budget line item that states “CONSTRUCTION OF HASSAN KATSINA ROAD (HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY)” indicates that it is “112km”! This is a road that is less than 20km! Where did the additional length of the road come from, with a budget of N300m?

There are lots of “cut and paste” observed.

As important as elections to the local government councils, the State Independent Electoral commission was not empowered through the 2017 budget to conduct elections, in accordance with section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution (as Amended). Despite the approval of N450mas subvention, whose purpose was not indicated, 6 months after the approval and accent to of the budget as indicated by Governor of the state on the 22nd of February 2017, no amount has so far been disbursed to SIEC to commence preparations for the conduct of local government council elections as provided by law. Despite the illegal extension of the Administrators of the 21 LGA as imposed by this administration, we are disturbed by the lack of oversight functions on the budget approved by the legislators and report made public through their various committees.

We call on the 2 arms of government, the executive and Legislature, to open up the budget process in Kogi State, that can be more inclusive and participatory. It is surprising that the budget summary and breakdown is not available to the citizenry as the Ministry of Finance has refused to do a breakdown since the 22nd of February 2017 when the budget was accented to by the Governor. We call on the Ministries of Finance to brief the state, through a stakeholders meeting, so as to inform the people on the implementation of the budget 2017 so far. How much has been realised and disbursed to the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the interest of fairness and justice.

Executive Director, CHRCR