Kwara: CSO Raises Alarm Over N1b For KWASIEC, N1.7m For Climate Change In 2024 Budget

Abuja, Nigeria– A civil society organisation, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), has expressed concerns over non-specific line items it observed in the 2024 budget that was presented by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on 14 December 2023.

The organisation noted a separate allocation of N100 million each for Citizen Engagement for both the Ministry of Youth Development and the Ministry of Communications.

In a statement released on Wednesday by its Global Director, Abideen Olasupo, the CSO disclosed that its assessment of the N296.4 billion fiscal plan was a key component of its budget advocacy and monitoring initiative, geared towards ensuring accountability, transparency and efficient resource allocation and management.

BBYDI stated that during its review of the budget estimates, it observed that quite a number of projects and programmes the State government plans to embark on next year were placed under the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology budget.

According to the group, some of the projects inserted under the ministry’s budget include N8.5billion for the rehabilitation of Kwara Hotel, N6billion for construction of International Conference Centre, Ilorin, N2.5billion for Agro Processing Facilities, N1billion for Industrial Park Phase 2, N1billion for construction of Modern Market, Ilorin, N900million for Phase 2 of Film Factory, Ilorin and N600million for Ilorin Innovation Hub.

It said: “These are projects that will gulp billions of taxpayers’ funds. We, therefore, encourage Kwarans to follow these projects and demand greater accountability, transparency and quality delivery from the government in their execution.”

The organisation asked the state government to clarify why there are separate allocations of N100 million each for Citizen Engagement for both the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Communications. “Could the government elaborate on the specific initiatives or projects this budget is intended to support,” it said.

BBYDI also noted that the allocation of N1 billion for the purchase of ‘electoral Hardware and software materials for the conduct of local government election’ gives a glimmer of hope that the state government will hold LG election next year. It, however, asked the government to provide a detailed breakdown of the materials it wants to procure with N1billion and to also confirm to Kwarans its readiness to hold council election in 2024.

The group noted that local council elections in Kwara were last conducted in October 2017 by the immediate past administration of Abdulfatah Ahmed-led, but the councils were dissolved Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, an action that has been declared illegal, null and void by the court.

The CSO also expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of paltry N1.7million for the State’s Climate Change Office, saying that “this raises concerns about the government’s commitment to addressing climate issues. Could the government provide information on the specific programs or initiatives covered by this budget?”.

While commending the State government for its proposed Public Toilet project, the group asked the state government to provide information on the number of public toilets it intends to build with the N300 million earmarked for the project.

“The idea of a Public Toilet project, budgeted at N300 million, is commendable. To better understand its impact, could the government provide information on the number of public toilets it plans to build in each of the three senatorial districts?”

Similarly, the civic group said: “While the government’s decision to create a Buffer Stock to ensure price stability and food security, particularly for agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, feeds, and chemicals, is commendable, there are concerns about the substantial allocation of N1billion. This figure represents a significant increase from the N50 million budgeted for the same purpose in the current year. Could the government provide a justification for this 950% increment to the citizens of Kwara State?”

BBYDI also asked the State government to explain exactly what it intends to do with the N100 million it budgeted for “digitisation of 500,000 farmers”. It equally demanded an explanation on the allocation of N291 million for Waste Management consulting under the Office of the Head of Service budget. “Could the government provide details on the scope of the consulting services and how this expenditure aligns with waste management objectives?”

However, BBYDI urged the Kwara State House of Assembly to consider a downward review of the N450 million allocated for Governor Abdulrazaq’s foreign trips and the N1.5 billion earmarked for international travels of government officials in 2024.

Additionally, the organization said “the budget line item titled “Purchase of Motor Vehicles-Kwara State House of Assembly,” raises concerns with a proposed budget of N100 million and a project description totalling N1.06 billion. This represents a significant difference of almost N900 million. Could the government carefully revisit and provide a detailed calculation for transparency?”

The CSO further sought an explanation on the N270 million budgetary provision for the repairs of the First Lady’s Office, asking the government to provide clarification on the level of renovation that requires such an amount.

“The apparent discrepancy in the calculation of budgetary provisions under the Office of the Secretary to the State Government raises questions. The proposed allocation for the line item is N1.5billion whereas the project description indicates N4.825billion. Could the government clarify and rectify this calculation for transparency and accuracy?