KADSPAC, MDAs Brainstorms on 2021 Budgets, Performance in Kaduna
By: Femi Mustapha
A group under the auspice of Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) is partnering Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Kaduna to track the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter 2022 budget performance of Social Protection Interventions in the state.
The Chairperson of KADSPAC, Jessica Bartholomew, stated this in the ongoing 2-Day Budget Dialogue on Social Protection Interventions in Kaduna state holding in Zaria.
She said the dialogue, supported by Save the Children International SCI, was organized to ensure effective implementation of Social Protection Interventions by tracking budget releases, cash-backing and utilization.
Jessica also added that KADSPAC will continue to prioritize tracking of public resources allocated in the annual budget for relevant MDAs to ensure implementation that will benefit the poor and vulnerable households in Kaduna state.
In his presentation, the Social Protection Specialist of SCI, George Akor, said Kaduna state can fund Social Protection sustainability.
According to him, the state has N16.6 Billion in 2022, which is N600million above what was planned for 2021.
Akor, however, said the deficit in the 2021 budget is striking. According to him, N128Bn was budgeted for SP implementation plan framework and only N9.1B was spent leaving a deficit of N96.5Bn.
Participants also raised concerns about budget realism and the State’s capacity to sustainably fund social protection interventions. The issue of budget releases not translating to cash backing, which is hindering the capacity of MDAs to effectively implement the interventions, was extensively discussed.
The Objectives of the meeting are to strengthen accountability mechanisms towards effective civil society and citizens’ engagement in the budgeting process, allocation and cash backing for SPi in Kaduna state.”
“To ascertain the release and cash backing of Social Protection interventions from the 4th Quarter 2021 till date in Kaduna state Budget across the SP MDAs in Kaduna.”
“To determine the actual spending of Kaduna government on the social protection interventions in the state.”
The MDAs present are Ministry of Human services and Social Development, Ministry of Agriculture Kaduna Contributory Heath Management Authority, Community and Social Development Agency and Kaduna Scholarship and loan Board
