PDP govt spent N2.1b on sweets, juice – Commissioner says

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Mohammad Abdulahi, on Saturday, alleged that the previous Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in the state spent N2.1billion on sweets, juice and food, annually.

The event was organised by the Kaduna state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The commissioner also revealed that N500m was also spent, annually, on purchase of newspapers by the PDP administration.

He, however, stated that the All Progressives Congress-led administration had since decided to cut down on such expenses by channelling the funds to infrastructural development.

He noted that the adoption of the treasury single account and the zero base budget had assisted the state government in generating N38billion to an open balance of 2016 budget.

“We are borrowing the larger percentage to fund the 2017 budget but it is to be channelled to infrastructural development," he added.

Abdulahi called on the media to help in educating the members of public on the break down of the 2017 budget so as to ensure its successful implementation.

Earlier, Zhiroh Jatau, Acting chairman of the NUJ in the state, said the discussion had provided an opportunity for members of the press and public to be better informed on what the administration was providing for the overall development of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov Nasir El-Rufai had on Oct. 12 sent a budget proposal of N215.9 billion for the 2017 financial year.