The Sokoto State Government says it has earmarked N1billon for the construction of African Zonal office of World Muslim League and the Hisbah office in Sokoto in 2014.
Alhaji Bello Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Religious Affairs, made this known on Friday when officials of the ministry appeared before the state House of Assembly Committee on Religious Affairs.
The officials were in the House to defend the ministry’s budget for 2014.
He told the House that the ministry had implemented over 90 per cent of the 2013 budget, adding that the state “will give more emphasis on these two projects in 2014.”
“Same will be done for the construction and renovation of mosques and Islamiya Schools”, Bello, added.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad, said that the allocation for the agency in the 2014 budget was over N1billion.
Muhammad, who was represented by the Director of Administration in the agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Ladan, however, pleaded with the committee to increase the allocation.
Responding, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Hamidu, said that the committee was satisfied with the level of execution of the ministry’s projects in the 2013 budget.
He promised that the committee would take necessary measures to redress the problems confronting the agency.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Alhaji Tsalha Sidi, had said that the state government would purchase modern sport facilities in 2014 to boost sports in the state.
Sidi said this when officials of the ministry also appeared before the House Committee on Youths and Sports.
“The Modern facilities are aimed at boosting the skills of the state’s sportsmen and encourage the youths to fully participate in all forms of sporting activities’’.
Muhammad also promised that the committee would consider the ministry’s budget proposal as appropriated.
Punch