Alhaji Ibarhim Jirgi is media aide to the Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko. In this interview with Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Jirgi speaks on the state’s budget policy, saying the focus of this year’s estimate is mainly on completion of ongoing projects.
Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko is now in his seventh year in office as Sokoto State governor and he is to leave office next year after the 2015 general elections. What really is your perception of the administration all these years, especially as regards the actualisation of campaign promises made to the electorate?
One can say confidently, without fear of contradiction that, so far so good, as the administration, since its coming into being now more than seven years ago, has been able to lay a sustainable foundation for the transformation of Sokoto State. It is a success story indeed; and we remain grateful to Allah for the success.
It is worth noting that in the face of lean resources at the disposal of government yet a lot has been achieved.
The huge successes are so enormous to require undue elucidations. Let me cite, as example, the number of projects commissioned in the last three months that included Sokoto State University, Usamanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Library Complex, ultra-modern Government Villas, rural roads, skills acquisition centres, 20 million gallon water scheme and 350 housing units for flood
disaster victims at Tsaro.
These actually speak volumes of the administration’s efforts at transforming the state. In fact, there are equally other projects that have been completed and earmarked for commissioning; and some of them include a fly-over bridge, reconstructed Ahmadu Bello Way, dualised western and eastern bye-pass roads, triplised Airport Road, Wamakko Orthopaedic Hospital, NYSC permanent orientation camp, Children’s Amusement Park and Sokoto modern abattoir.
This is in addition to over 50 other development projects that are at the moment awaiting commissioning in all parts of the state.
The governor had on November 29, 2013 presented this year’s budget for the state before the House of Assembly for deliberations and subsequent approval. What is the budget all about?
It is expected that a total of N125.8 billion would be spent for the state this fiscal year as contained in the budget. This year’s budget is 8.7 percent higher than that of the preceding year which was N115.8 billion. Reading through the estimate one can clearly see that the budget’s focus is on completion of all ongoing projects to essentially improve the quality of life of Sokoto people.
That is why it is being referred to as ‘Budget of Consolidation and Sustainable Development, and if you carefully look at the budget sectoral allocation, the highest proportion goes to economic sector, followed by social sector and general administration sector, respectively. This is essentially to achieve the budget objective.
It is also part of the budget’s policy thrust to ensure unhindered progress of the state by focusing on the critical sectors of investment in physical infrastructure, education, agriculture and rural development. It is to further sustain and intensify various interventions in the area of poverty reduction as well as promote implementation of projects and programmes which address critical targets of MDGs.
How would you allay the fears that many projects initiated by the administration may be abandoned for lack of time?
The governor is very serious about completion of all ongoing capital projects he initiated. In fact, it has been the consistent philosophy of his administration that no chance would be given for a project to be abandoned because of his belief that such a practice is inimical to democracy and detrimental to the overall development of any society; therefore, government is really committed towards ensuring that no project is left uncompleted in the life of this administration.
What are other key areas the budget is intended to address this fiscal year?
You see, the administration is very much concerned about sustenance of peace and security in the state; so this critical area would continue to receive all the attention it deserves this fiscal year. It is also in the estimate to sustain and accelerate the state’s human capital investment in health, education, agriculture and rural development as well as strengthen public service capacity for good governance.
Equally, government also plans to provide critical utilities that would give citizens fulfilling life to enable them contribute to the overall development process. There are so many things like that all in this year’s budget. For example, there is also a plan to establish fruitful partnership with the private sector to create economic and educational opportunities as well as to revitalise all health institutions and improve healthcare delivery services in all parts of the state.
Budget presentation is one thing and its implementation is another; this is because the yearly estimate is often marred by poor implementation. What are the mechanisms put in place by government to ensure this year’s budget does not derail?
I need not to reiterate that budget is a statutory responsibility which provides the opportunity to translate the hopes and aspirations of the governed to reality. I know at the moment government is in the process of adopting the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS); but already the National Chart of Account was domesticated with relevant personnel trained.
This is in addition to all necessary measures that will be taken to ensure government spending bolsters service delivery. The governor himself announced his administration’s determination to continue with ongoing reforms in the public finance systems this year. This is because all legislations backing these reforms would be put in place. Above all, transparency and accountability remain the watchword in the administration’s commitment to the state.
Where does this year’s budget differ from last year’s in terms of priority and other government activities?
I had earlier said the size of this year’s budget is N125.8 billion for recurrent and capital expenses; and it is higher than last year’s budget by 8.7 percent. As you know, budget under democratic dispensation is a product of extensive consultations with key stakeholders but the cardinal objective is meeting the people’s expectations within the limits of available resources.
Last year’s budget was N115.8 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures. The implementation was smooth and in harmony with provisions of existing laws and regulations; so there is no much difference; they are almost the same thing since this year’s budget is a consolidation of the previous achievements.
What is the state of the Sokoto Almajiri Integrated School at present?
The school is being run satisfactorily. Just last year 14 staff quarters and six blocks of classrooms were built in the school to facilitate conducive operation of the institution for which a total of more than one billion naira has been committed.
Not only that, government also accorded necessary assistance to Islamic organisations such as renovation of Islamic schools construction of Juma’at mosques and procurement of Islamic books and furniture items for Islamiyyah schools. I want to use this opportunity to also talk on the state zakkat and endowment committee, which its establishment is now yielding positive results.
The committee’s collaboration with the traditional institutions, for example, has impressively re-oriented the general populace on the need to give befitting attention to critical welfare issues.
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