An insight into Sule Lamido’s N77.25bn budget
Instructively, a careless Content Analysis of the budget text threw up a vocabulary that, collectively, suggested a strong link between budget and democracy in the state: momentum, deprivation, humanism, collective self-esteem, community ownership, poverty reduction programmes, (Ventilation Improved Pit) latrines, etc. In other words, a categorical bent between the budget rhetoric and the talakawa interest […]
Instructively, a careless Content Analysis of the budget text threw up a vocabulary that, collectively, suggested a strong link between budget and democracy in the state: momentum, deprivation, humanism, collective self-esteem, community ownership, poverty reduction programmes, (Ventilation Improved Pit) latrines, etc. In other words, a categorical bent between the budget rhetoric and the talakawa interest is strongly suggested.
But that was not where the contagion effect of the rising populist tide in Jigawa was most demonstrated. It was in the robust summing up of the regime in the last four years from the most surprising quarters-the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Sarawa. An ordinarily unassuming legislator, it was surprising he packed so much populist fire in him.
First of all, he got the protocol sequence totally right, something which has hitherto been the exclusive preserve of the governor who has this capacity to end up recognizing almost everyone who represented something in every state function without missing the order of precedence. That is probably not surprising, Lamido being a former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Today, the Speaker’s listing covered from the governor down to the gentlemen of the press and there was no mistake in the sequence, including the problem most people have with where to put heads of federal security establishments-before or after the SSG/Head of Service/members of the state executive council.
But more important was the Speaker’s representation of the government of Alhaji Sule Lamido. In the remarks after the governor’s budget speech, the Speaker said the regime had taken on policies and programmes that were truly transformative, far, far above the routine.
These policies, he said, had “enabled the disabled” across the state.
His listing included the seven thousand naira monthly stipend social security programme for the most physically challenged persons in the state; the campaign against drug addiction and the subsequent eradication of thuggery in Jigawa politics; the bringing into life of skills acquisition centres across the state that he said are working wonders on poverty reduction; the Talakawa Summit as an opportunity to insert the voice of the voiceless into public agenda.
His list continued: the building of Aminu Kano Triangle and the Sawaba Monument which he characterized as ‘apt tributes to pioneers of radical politics in Nigeria’; stoppage of indiscriminate display of posters as if everywhere is a rally ground; the feeding programme for Jigawa State pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and the integration of the koranic and western education processes which has been taken over by the federal government.
For these reasons, the Speaker said he is proud to show his Jigawa identity anywhere in Nigeria today. “These works are truly remarkable, especially when we add what has been done in education, rural electrification, mass housing road networks and other areas”, he further opined, adding that it was for these reasons that the House will give the budget estimates accelerated hearing within the context of what he called institutional partnership.
The strong social assessment of the budget in contrast to the statistical mystification of the instrument called budget, has been a pattern of the present Jigawa state government. For, in reviewing the 2010 budget while presenting the 2011 estimates, Lamido noted the following points. One, is that his government has always maintained a balanced budget ever since. Two, is that he has always paid salaries as and when due, meaning that he has never owed salaries or any retirement benefits. Three is that even while the state may not be embarking on mass employment, the impending staff audit and the certain inter-agency rationalization will mean public sector employment without stressing public finance. Four is that the state has implemented all its programmes without borrowing any kobo from anywhere. Five is that, in spite of everything, Jigawa state has moved from a virtual standstill to the state where access to safe drinking water is the best in the country. Additionally, it has the best/smoothest road networks in Nigeria today, made up of over 500 kilometers rehabilitated and asphalted and 520 Kilometers completely newly tarred across the state. And not the least in the area of rural electrification which is a very important catalyst for improved rural livelihood.
In the Nigerian context, some of these points justify the self congratulations and Lamido’s confidence that “the trials and tribulations of the people of Jigawa state are over for ever”. Jigawa has, indeed, come a long way from Governor Sule Lamido’s first budget speech on Friday, January 11, 2008 to the last on Friday, December 31, 2010.
Onoja is an Adviser to Gov.Lamido