Buhari pulls funds to home state, approves N6.25b for ranching in Katsina

• Gov Masari seeks review of 2021 budget

President Muhammadu Buhari may have begun a process of pulling funds to his state to strengthen the battle against bandits and killer herdsmen through non-violent means. Since the controversies generated by the killer herdsmen across Nigeria began to threaten the unity of the country, the president had supported the development of resettlement centres or ranches for the herders. President Buhari, accordingly, approved an intervention fund of N6.25 billion for construction of ranches in Katsina State.

In a bid to legalise the spending of the fund, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State wrote to the  state House of Assembly for review of the 2021 budget to include the N6.25 billion President Buhari approved for Katsina State for development of ranch programme in the State.

The Deputy Leader of the House, Ibrahim Dikko, read the governor’s letter seeking adjustment of the budget during plenary on Tuesday.

However, request for a supplementary budget would have made the process easier.

The Deputy House Leader notified the members of the Assembly that Governor has approached the legislature to include  the N6.25 billion from the Federal Government in the 2021 budget, for ranching programme in Katsina State.

Governor Masari had pointed out that N6.25 billion was not included in the original 2021 appropriation law, passed by the Assembly, and assented by him.