The Kaduna State Ministry of Health with support of dRPC-PAS conducted its MDAs Budget expenditure validation meeting on the 19th August 2020, with a view to validate all MDAs budget proposals before the Budget Defense committee.

The opening remarks were given by the director of planning SMOH before the arrival of

Honorable Commissioner of Health. All the nine MDAs listed below were invited to present their draft year 2021 budget based on the envelope given to them for observations, discussion and

recommendations before the ministry’s budget defense in the state house of assembly in the coming week.

State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Agency (KADCHMA), Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna State Birau of Drugs Users and Substance Abuse Agency (KADBUSA), Kaduna State Drug Supply Management Agency (KADSMA), Shehu Idris College of Health & Technology Makarfi (SICHST), KADSACA, Ministry of Health and College of Nursing and Midwifery.

The following observations were made after the MDA presentation:

The entire health budget was reduced by 50% due to the reduction in revenue caused by Covid19, this caused three out of the MDAs to exceed their ceiling. KADSACA’s capital budget of 13m was grossly inadequate while little amount was budgeted in the recurrent for sensitization despite drop in the States indices on HIV/AIDs.

KACHMA’s reviewed year 2020 budget of 430m which was given in four trenches amounted to the sum of 206m. This even affects the coverage of vulnerable persons as stipulated in the act establishing the authority. More so since the commencement of the scheme, only six LGAs have been reached with the issue of weak sensitization across the State. It was also noted that the ceiling given to them was 680m as against what was in the act.

KADBUSA’s poor recurrent allocation of 1.2m for mobilization and sensitization as against concentration on establishing more rehabilitation centers in four areas in the state was noted, for CON&M- It was observed that they distributed allocation to colleges for similar items should be grouped into one code.

SPHCDA exceeded its ceiling, it was acknowledged that work has started on the new set of 255 PHCs for renovations, with only few to be completed in the initial 255. However, adjustment will be made to ensure that each ward has a standard and well equipped PHCs. The Meeting observed the need for a holistic renovation and procurement of equipment.

Mal. Mustapha Jumare from IIGES-PAS made some observations on the budget for renovation of the 255 PHCs second phase of which he suggested that some of the renovated 255 PHCs of the first phase was not standard and not equipped and no budget line item capture the upgrading of the existing 255 PHCs. According to Mal. Jumare another observation was that KADSMA should review their Budget proposal as it was not properly organized and inaccurate

Some of the other issue raised are:

• The amount allocated to the agencies was too small. N1billion allocated but little was released
• 2020 budget reviewed was one billion but the envelope given was 430million naira which is meant to cover 2021
• SPHCDA budget reviewed downward from 5.86billion in 2020 but envelope given was 3billion for 2021

After the presentation by MDAs, the Hon. Commissioner for Health in her response commended the MDAs budget presenters for the job well-done and urged the MDAs when developing the budget, they should be mindful of not exceeding the Budget ceiling. The Perm Sec. also added that to avoid cancelation of line budget during budget defense, line budget should be specific and reasonable so that it will be accepted. The Hon. Commissioner for Health thanked and commended the dRPC-PAS for supporting the Ministry on the program and urged all the MDAs to make effect on the observation before the budget harmonization and defense.