By Hussaina Yakubu
Gov. Uba Sani says Kaduna State remains committed to reforms that strengthen fiscal resilience and improve service delivery.
Sani pledged prudent management of public resources, assuring that every government fund would deliver measurable benefits to Kaduna residents.
The governor spoke on Wednesday while receiving members of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) who paid him a courtesy call in Kaduna.
Sani said his administration had demonstrated that prudent resource management, institutional reforms and strategic investments could produce transformative development.
He said Kaduna recorded significant progress in fiscal sustainability, healthcare and education over the past three years.
According to him, reforms, technology deployment and transparency have significantly increased the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Sani attributed the revenue growth to deliberate reforms that diversified revenue sources and modernised tax administration.
He said improved compliance was achieved through technology-driven systems that enhanced efficiency and accountability.
The governor identified Project C.R.A.F.T. and the PAYKADUNA platform as key reforms simplifying revenue collection and reducing leakages.
He added that the reforms enhanced transparency and strengthened public confidence in government institutions.
Sani said increased public trust had encouraged voluntary tax compliance as residents witnessed improved service delivery.
The governor said his administration had expanded and modernised healthcare infrastructure across Kaduna State.
He disclosed that one Primary Healthcare Centre in each local government had been upgraded into a Centre of Excellence.
Sani said the government procured modern medical equipment, three ambulances, recruited health workers and improved their remuneration.
He described education as a central pillar of his administration’s development agenda.
According to him, Kaduna has achieved near gender parity in school enrolment.
The governor said out of school children dropped from an estimated 535,000 in 2023 to 187,720 after a household mapping exercise.
He acknowledged remaining challenges but described the state’s progress in reducing out-of-school children as encouraging.
Sani said sustained public investment, including allocating 26.5 per cent of the state budget to education, drove the achievements.
He also credited UBEC intervention funds and the World Bank-supported BESDA programme for improved education outcomes.
The governor listed school feeding, free education, safer learning environments and extended teachers’ service years as additional interventions.
Sani said the achievements reflected sound fiscal management, purposeful leadership and sustained investment in human development.
He commended RMAFC for supporting sub-national governments through revenue mobilisation, fiscal oversight, data verification and institutional development.
The RMAFC delegation, led by its Chairman, Dr Mohammed Shehu, is reviewing Nigeria’s horizontal revenue allocation formula across states.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)