As Allocations Dwindle,Kano Targets Tax,Other Fiscal Reforms

By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Friday said it has become imperative to pursue the various tax and other fiscal reforms already put in place by the state government in the face of dwindling statutory allocations.
He said, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must intensify efforts towards achieving their revenue targets.
Governor Kwankwaso in his opening address of the 5th Retreat for political office holders, top government functionaries and directors of the state held in Kaduna, Friday ,also stressed the need for interface/synergy between ministries of finance, planning and budget and the projects monitoring directorate to be strengthened being an essential ingredient for consolidating the successes recorded over the years.
According to the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the purpose of convening the 4-day retreat with the theme “Mid-Term Review, Consolidation Mechanism and Celebration of Success,” is to take stock of the achievements recorded from June, 2011 to date vis-à-vis identification of challenges with a view to coming up with a way forward.
“It is worthy to note that the 2014 fiscal year as envisaged, has been forthcoming in terms of realizing the set objectives of government by harnessing resource potentials through effective budget implementation based on the etiquette of openness, transparency and accountability as cardinal posture of the present administration.
“The 2014 budget is primarily focused on the completion of on-going projects. In this vein, 90 percent of the capital provisions were earmarked and 10 percent for new projects. As such the budget is tailored for infrastructural development, aggressive revenue generation drive, youth/women empowerment, health and education growth and development of human capital through capacity building.
In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Kano State, Dr. Umar Shehu Minjibir, said, “Civil service at all times, exists to assist government to evolve and facilitate effective programmes and policies for the improvement of our society and happiness of our society and happiness of our people.
However, to achieve these core values, the service requires not only the capacity and skills, but certain levels of encouragement through improved welfare in both executive and executing profiles.