Musa Abdullahi
Mai-Gwandu Kebbi Citizen No 13 Takalau Area,
Near Jumaat Mosque
Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State
This strange occurrence, would definitely give room for suspicion that
the delay might have with it some ulterior reservations.
DELAYING THE KEBBI 2007 BUDGET: A CALL FOR CONCERN
DELAYING THE KEBBI 2007
BUDGET: A CALL FOR CONCERN by Musa Abdullahi
Mai-Gwandu
The dilatory tactics employed by the authorities in
Kebbi state in passing the 2007 Budget has been something of a serious
concern to the indigenes and all lovers of the state.
Contrary to the general practices, the lukewarm
ness
attached to the preparation, presentation and passing of the Budget
lives much to be desired for in the state.
Already several other states in the country have
for long dealt with their Budgetary issues for the year and even gone
on implementation levels. As obtains anywhere, the Budgetary proposals
are made at the good time in the preceding year so as to allow for
smooth transition in governmental business transactions as the new
year takes off.
To every development conscious citizens of Kebbi
State, this undue delay in the presentation of 2007 Budget, is enough
an issue to call for concern and even raise alarm as to what is
actually going on.
Where as in other states, debates have gone far for
the 2007 Appropriation Bills, as it is now in Kebbi State, nothing so
far has been heard as to the issue of its 2007 Budget.
This strange occurrence, would definitely give room
for suspicion that the delay might have with it some ulterior
reservations.
In deed a vested personal interest must be
connected to this situation. As it stands in the state now, the
absence of some elements especially a next of kin to the Chief
Executive might be attributable to this delay. This is for him to chip
in personal interest.
So far the ministries and other parastatals of the
government have on their part computed and submitted their expenditure
proposals for the year.
Where then could such proposals be? Of course no
one heard of the usual Appropriation Bill presentation ceremony on the
part of the state legislature or that it has received the executive
Bill (Appropriation Bill 2007).
Indeed part of what contributed to this unhealthy
situation has been the fact that all the parties that could allow for
the release of the Budget have all these time long been pre-occupied
with political scheming especially as it affects the succession
arrangement.
The delay in the release of the Budget in the State
has already stated manifesting its ugly face in the various aspects of
lives of the people.
The activities of the government have so far
grounded to a near total halt as the state enters a new fiscal year.
Rendering essential services to the citizenry has started to pose some
difficulties to the agencies concern.
The fact on the ground has been that the ministries
and other bodies are utterly squint and unable to execute any
meaningful function consequent upon delay in the release of funds for
the year.
The hopes and aspirations of the citizenry have
since begun to transform into mere illusories as the new year
progress.
Could it therefore be that politicking and personal
aggrandizement have now taken precedence over the implementation of
essential services to the citizenry?
What the authorities in Kebbi state ought to bear
in mind has been that, both the government and its activities have
serious bearing on the lives of the people under its stewardship.
The delay in the release of the 2007 Budget has
indeed to a larger extent hampers the Socio-economic lives of the
people of the state.
The brunt is practically been born in both the
Urban and Rural areas of the state. This is the economy that closely
ties to wages and other governmental incomes. Commercial activities
stand the deadly risk of failing to its lowest ebb.
Already our markets, because of this seeming
austere
manner, turned to mere shop windows where wares are show cased with no
potential buyers.
There is of course no two-way about it that this
untoward trend has the potential of crippling down the general
socio-economic well being of the state.
This delay manifestly portrays the fact that the
statuary functions of the government are being compromised for
personal aggrandizement motive and or ends.
Where as in this period under review, the
activities of the government suffer some shortfalls, the innocent
citizenry themselves are made victims of the insatiable quest of a few
others.
The rule of governance provides for justice, equity
and fairly as contain in the oath of office one had under taken at the
time of talking the mantle of public leadership.
By the way what ever height remains un-attain using
the previous Budgets, could not be attain in this last one marking the
terminal end of the life of this administration.
As the good people of Kebbi state wait anxiously
for the eventual release of the 2007 Budget, they are equally hopeful
that it would embody in it genuine programmes that would arrest the
current quandary the delay has since begotten.
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