By Uzair Adam
The Kano State government has allocated N2.5 billion for conducting quarterly mass weddings across the 44 local government areas of the state in 2025.
The Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Musa Shanono, disclosed this while presenting a breakdown of the state’s 2025 budget, recently passed into law by the State House of Assembly.
Shanono stated that the initiative aims to promote social welfare, uphold human rights, and improve the living standards of residents.
He noted that the government has earmarked N91.32 billion for governance and service delivery programs, including the mass wedding initiative.
In 2023, the state conducted a mass wedding for 1,800 couples, including widows, divorcees, and spinsters, at a cost of over N800 million.
Beyond the mass weddings, the commissioner outlined other allocations in the budget, including N1 billion for Ramadan feeding, N955 million for a manpower statistics survey, general household survey, and out-of-school children statistics, and N1.049 billion for purchasing a printing machine, rehabilitating the general water system, and procuring library equipment for the Government Printing Press.
Additionally, N267.6 million has been budgeted for infrastructure provision, printing an Islamic calendar, and supporting Islamic Da’wah programs and new converts.
Another N589 million has been set aside for security research, empowerment initiatives, and special interventions for street beggars.
The budget also includes N200 million for procuring office furniture, maintaining the Accountant-General’s office, and developing public financial management software and reform activities.
Shanono further stated that the total size of the approved 2025 budget stands at N719.76 billion, marking a 31% increase from the N549.16 billion initially proposed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The budget includes N262.67 billion for recurrent expenditure and N457.08 billion for capital projects, representing a 65% increase compared to 2024.