Zamfara denies budgeting N19.3bn for kitchen utensils

The Zamfara state government says it did not budget N19.3 billion for the purchase of kitchen equipment in 2024.

There are claims that the state budgeted N19.3 billion to purchase kitchen and canteen equipment for the state’s government house.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Gusau, Zamfara capital, Abdulmalik Gajam, Zamfara commissioner for budget and economic planning, said the claim, which was widely circulated on social media, was “misleading”.

“The news platform that peddled the fake news pushed half-baked statistics, omitting the vital information from the complete budget performance document,” Gajam said.

“The breakdown of N19.3 billion was budgeted under the ministry of education, and it is under the category of capital expenditure.

“The name canteen and kitchen is a fixed asset purchase, the coded name of a particular category of multiple expenditures which contain a provision on the agile program, construction of zonal primary schools, provision of smart primary school in Gusau, procurement of kitchen utensils for all government schools for N40 million, construction of teachers training centre and creation of teachers development funding scheme.

“All this put together is what constituted N19.3 billion.”

The commissioner said the state under Dauda Lawal, the governor, is committed to reducing the abuse of public funds and blocking leakages.

“We would not be found wanting in relation to such mismanagement and irresponsibility,” he said.