Zamfara Assembly begins downward review of 2021 budget

FROM SURAJO MUHAMMAD

Zamfara state House of Assembly has reviewed the 2021 appropriation budget of the state downward by N16 billion naira to allow the state government to implement the budget without much deficits.

In a statement issued to newsmen by the DG Media and Publicity of the House, Malam Mustapha Jafar Kaura stated that, the decision to review the budget downward was  as a result of the request sent to the lawmakers by Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle via a letter signed by Secretary to the state government Kabiru Balarabe Dan-Isah on the issues.

The statement further said, while reading the letter, Speaker Magarya informed his colleague that due to the persistent security crises, the state government cannot go ahead in implementing deficit budget, hence the need to review the it downward became imperative.

While leading the debate on the floor of the House, the House leader, Hon. Faruk Dosara urged members of the House to give the request accelerated hearing considering its sensitivity.

” Since the state is implementing its budget inline with the IPSAS baseline, budget review is always imminent,, especially when the need arises” he added.

Contributing on the issue, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Musa Bawa Musa Yankuzo draw the attention of the House on the good work of late Hon  G Ahmad who was then the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation that worked tremendously in passaged of this year’s budget which according to him should not go in vein, pointing out that, late Hon. G  Ahmad would continue to be remembered by this honourable house.

In his ruling Speaker,  Rt. Hon. Nasiru Muazu Magarya directed members to give the proposal first and second hearing, after which he ordered that the request be handed to house Committee on Finance and Appropriation to work on it and report back to the house within two weeks.