Katsina’s grants hit N23bn in 2006 \— Safana
From MU’AWUYA B. IDRIS, Katsina

KATSINA state government received about N23 billion from the federation account last year, permanent secretary in the state’s ministry of finance, Alhaji Abdu Safana has revealed.
Speaking with newsmen in Katsina yesterday, Alhaji Safana said the amount is out of the targeted N28 billion.
Alhaji Safana explained further that the state is expected to receive about N27 billion this year.
The permanent secretary, who defended his ministry’s budget before appropriation committee of the state House of Assembly, said the expectation of the government on the amount to be received from the federation account is based on the benchmark price of crude oil.
On the effort to improve welfare of civil servants, Alhaji Safana explained that the state government has expended about N70 million on car and refurbishing loans.
He explained that out of the amount, N45 million was given as refurbishing loan while N25 million went into car loan.
While disclosing that the loan will be a continuous one, he assured that it will reach all ministries and parastatals.
According to him, already, the state ministry of finance has commenced recovering the loans from the beneficiary civil servants for others to benefit.