Yero presents fifth supplementary budget in a year

For the fifth time in the same fiscal year, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has again requested the Kaduna State House of Assembly to approve a supplementary budget of N4.65 billion.

According to the governor, the money is needed to construct 132/33KV substation solar mini-grid and stand-alone street lighting.

Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji Umar Mohammed, read the letter to the House.

He said a credit line agreement was signed between the federal government and the Export Import Bank of India on May 22, 2014, after the state budget had been passed into law, adding that the state needed the supplementary budget to enable it access and utilise the $30million Indian credit facility.

He said: “The $30 million will translate into N4.65billion at the Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate of N155 per dollar. In view of the fore-going, I wish to request the kind consideration of the House for a supplementary budget.”

While some members commended the state governments for its foresight in that direction, others including the House Minority Leader, Mohammed Ali, expressed concern over the bill, saying there was a need for the Assembly to ensure that the money is well protected.

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