The Sokoto State Executive Council has approved a supplementary budget of N119 billion, which will be presented to the state House of Assembly for approval.
Additionally, the council approved N17.9 billion to reconstruct various roads across the state.
Addressing journalists after the council meeting on Thursday, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Balarabe Kadadi, explained that the budget includes inflows from several sources, including NG-CARES, L-Press, AGILE, Palliative Fund for Local Government Areas, Ecological Fund, and Excess Crude Oil allocations.
Kadadi further stated that the supplementary budget proposal would soon be submitted to the state House of Assembly for approval.
In line with the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, the council also approved N11.8 billion for the reconstruction of the 40.7 km Illela-Gada road and another N3.2 billion for the construction of the Wurno-Huchi road.
Speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Bello Dabchadi, emphasized that these road projects are part of Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s promises made during his recently concluded local government tour. Danchadi highlighted the economic significance of these roads to the state and noted that N2.9 billion had been approved for the construction of the Romo Bridge.
In a related development, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr. Jabir Maihula, announced the approval of N156.7 million for the rehabilitation of the state’s oldest Islamiyya school, which has produced many prominent scholars, including professors and politicians. Additionally, N33.4 million has been allocated for the renovation of the Isa Wasagu Juma’at Mosque.
The Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Nasiru Dantsoho, also provided updates from the meeting, revealing that the council had approved amendments to the Sokoto High Court and Sharia Court of Appeal Laws. The amendments will raise the retirement age for judges and Khadis to 70 years and increase the number of High Court judges to 41 and Khadis to 31.
Furthermore, Dantsoho noted that N361.2 million had been approved for the renovation of the Sharia Court of Appeal.
