Zakari Haruna, Kaduna
A two-day workshop on the development of the 2025-2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) was officially opened by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Right Honorable Jibril Ismail Falgore.
In his opening remarks, Speaker Falgore expressed gratitude to Allah for the opportunity to participate in this vital exercise. He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Kano State House of Assembly, particularly the Standing Committee on Appropriations, and the State Ministry of Planning and Budget in driving the MTEF initiative.
"I must appreciate the unwavering support of the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, towards the actualization of this exercise," Falgore stated.
He extended his gratitude to the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of the Civil Service, members of the State Executive Council, permanent secretaries, directors, development partners, and traditional rulers for their roles in the workshop's organization.
The Speaker highlighted that the workshop marks the beginning of the three-year fiscal plan for Kano State, with a key objective being to review the 2024 half-year budget performance report and develop the MTEF for the 2025-2027 fiscal period.
He called on all participants, especially those from revenue-generating agencies, to enhance their efforts in revenue generation, emphasizing the need to overcome challenges such as the removal of fuel subsidies, insecurity, and economic instability.
"We must recognize the adverse effects of these economic challenges on our state," Falgore said, urging the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) and other revenue-generating MDAs to meet their targets. He pledged that the House of Assembly would take necessary measures to block revenue leakages and hold accountable any agency found responsible for such issues.
The Speaker concluded by urging participants to utilize their expertise in making realistic and credible fiscal projections for the state, aligning with the macroeconomic indicators and current realities. He reaffirmed the legislature's commitment to passing a budget that reflects the MTEF's projections and the state's fiscal priorities.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Honorable Commissioner of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, Honourable Musa Suleiman Shanono stressed the importance of the MTEF as a strategic planning tool.
"The workshop aims to provide economic and fiscal analysis to sensitize participants on the 2025 budget planning process and review the 2024 half-year budget performance," the Commissioner stated.
He emphasized the importance of the MTEF in producing estimates of the government's aggregate resources and ensuring their allocation to meet economic, social, and developmental objectives.
The Commissioner stressed the critical role of collaboration among the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches, as well as input from the public, in developing and implementing effective budget strategies. He acknowledged the commitment of the Kano State administration under Governor Yusuf's leadership to adopting Public Financial Management reforms to enhance budgetary transparency and accountability.
"Despite the challenging economic situation, the approval and conduct of this workshop by His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf reaffirm his commitment to the service and welfare of the people of Kano State," the Commissioner noted, expressing gratitude for the Governor's support.
Honourable Suleiman Shanono however welcomed the Right Honorable Speaker, members of the State Executive Council, development partners, and other stakeholders to the workshop.
The workshop is expected to provide a platform for peer learning, technical guidance, and insightful discussions on crafting a realistic and sustainable fiscal framework for Kano State.
The event will focus on aligning the state's budgetary allocations with its developmental goals and addressing economic challenges to improve the well-being of its citizens.
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