Tambuwal beats UNESCO mark, votes 29% to education

Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto state governor, has surpassed the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended budgetary standard by committing 29 percent of the state’s 2016 budget to education.

According to UNESCO, “governments should commit at least 6 percent of gross national product to education and should spend at least 20% of their budgets on education,” – a feat Tambuwal beat on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the governor who had initially declared an emergency on education presented a budget estimate of N174.35 billion for the 2016 fiscal year with education getting 29 percent.

Presenting the report before the state house of assembly, Tambuwal revealed that the sum of N123.8 billion has been set aside for capital expenditure while N50.5 billion was set aside for recurrent expenditure.

He said education got the largest allocation in order to underscore his recent policy of declaration of state of emergency in the sector.

“The policy thrust of the budget is to ensure sustainable development of the state by focusing on the critical sectors of investment in education, agriculture, health, environment solid minerals and rural development,” he said.

“The Budget will also pay adequate attention to the implementation of various intervention programmes in the area of poverty reduction; to address critical targets of Sustainable Development Goals so as to achieve the aspirations of the citizenry for a meaningful life.”

Tambuwal said among the key policy thrust of the budget is the sustenance of peace and security in the state, improving the quality of education and healthcare delivery, diversifying the economy.

He highlighted plans for harnessing the agricultural sector and solid minerals deposits, while improving the revenue base of the state and plugging all leakages to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of resources.

He said the recurrent expenditure was reduced in order to build up capital which will directly impact on the lives of the people.

“We hope to strengthen public service capacity for good governance, develop human capital, empower our youth, reduce poverty and protect our environment.

“We will provide critical utilities that will give citizens fulfilling life to enable them contribute to the overall development process.”

The state budget is an improvement of the nation’s budget, where only 6.7 percent was allotted to education.