Date: 2017-05-23

...saved N.1bn for state

But for the decision of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed not to spend above the budget of the Kwara at 50 anniversary and insistence on having a low-key celebration, some politicians and other members of the committee had reportedly wanted to turn the event to another cash cow, National Pilot can report.

It was gathered that some members of the committee, especially the politicians among them, saw the opportunity as another avenue to enrich themselves but for the governor's insistence to cut cost in line with the present economic reality in the state.

According to findings by this medium last night, the money approved for the event in the 2017 budget by the legislature was N180 million for the 10-day duration of the programme.

However, what was eventually released by the governor was about N85 million, which is a far cry from the approved budget.

Members of the 31-man committee were drawn from different parts of the state comprising, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, members of State Assembly and Permanent Secretaries among others.

A source told National Pilot that when all the subcommittees submitted their proposals, the entire budget was hovering around N600 million for feeding, accommodation, entertainment and mobilisation, among others.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak officially on the matter, said the governor's action initially generated a kind of disquiet among some committee members who saw it as a 'politically incorrect' decision to make.

"But Governor Ahmed went ahead to slash the budget beyond expectation," the source added. It could not be confirmed if the governor's action was predicated on the need to cut cost alone, before the paper went to bed, last night.

"You know in event of this nature, such attitude especially among politicians, is not new. But the governor must take a lot of credit for the amount that was finally approved. "Several meetings were held and the committee members were later expanded to 31 comprising of Commissioners, SSAs, SAs, state Assembly, party members and Permanent Secretaries among others.

"Sub committees were set up along the line and they were directed to go and produce their budget for the anniversary. The proposal they initially submitted was close to N600m for accommodation, mobilisation, feeding and entertainment among others.

"But the members of the House of Assembly among us insisted and continuously reminded the committee about the fact that only N180m was approved by the House for the programme.

"Also, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sola Gold who is the Chairman of the committee drew the attention to the House's approval and the fact that the state might not be financially robust enough to shoulder such expenses now.

"But the good thing was that the Governor did not only cut the proposal submitted, he drastically reduced it from what the House approved and saved the state over N500m in the process. It would have been another jamboree for some people in other climes, some would have just let it go to create a kind of opportunity for some of the appointees," the source submitted.

The Chairman of the Kwara at 50 committee, Alhaji Gold, while speaking at the World Press conference, last week, to herald the event, said the state has the lowest-key celebration among its contemporaries that are also celebrating golden age in the country.

He said the 31-man committee was constituted by Governor Ahmed because the event "deserves a significant mark for the present generation and those unborn, adding that Kwara is the most united and peaceful state in the country."

According to him, the committee held various meetings and "brainstormed with wide consultation" to arrive at the programmes mapped out for the event adding that unity, peace and development remain the greatest achievements of the state in the last 50 years.