2021 budget: Zamfara earmarks over N6 billion for schools renovation

The Zamfara State Government has said that it earmarked in the 2021 budget over N6 billion for the renovation and reconstruction of schools acrossthe State.

The Commissioner of Education, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi disclosed this to newsmen after defending the 2021 budget proposal for his ministry at the State House of Assembly.

Abdullahi said that, “we proposed to spend over N6 billion on capital projects especially schools renovation and reconstruction.

“Currently, I have memo of over N3.1 billion for renovation of 23 schools across the state which will be reflected in the 2021 budget.

“You know, the present administration led by Governor Bello Matawalle consider it necessary to embark on total renovation of schools in order to provide conducive teaching and learning environment for teachers and students.

“Out of the 207 schools we have in the State, we have many that needed urgent intervention because of their level of delapidation”, The Commissioner said.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Justice, Nura Zarumi also while defending the 2021 budget proposal of his ministry planned to spend N500 million for the review of the laws of the State.

Zarumi said that, “you know the review of the State laws is very important for the development of the State.

“Over 20 years, after the creation of this State, we don’t have our own laws, most of the laws we are using we inherited them from Sokoto State.

“We need to review those laws and provide new ones inline with the present condition of our State and people.

“This is the right time to do this work, we proposed N500 million for this assignment.

“We are going to collaborate with the State House of Assembly to carryout this assignment”, Zarumi said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on finance and appropriation, Muhammad G-Ahmad said the 2021 budget defence is giving emphasis on addressing the challenges faced in the 2020 budget due to Covid-19 pandamic.

“You know, the 2021 budget in the State is IPSAS oriented, we are working under the guidelines of International Public Sector Accounting Standards
(IPSAS) to comply with State Government policy and global standard in this regard.

“We are also giving emphasis on revenue generation aimed at boosting IGR of the State ”, G-Ahmad explained.