The Kano State Government has earmarked a staggering N2.5 billion to sponsor mass weddings across the state’s 44 Local Government Areas in 2025. The initiative, known as Auren Gata/Zawarawa and Yan Mata, is set to be conducted quarterly as part of the administration’s social welfare programs.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Musa Shanono, during a press briefing on the breakdown of the 2025 approved budget for Kano State. According to Shanono, the government plans to spend N91.32 billion on governance and service delivery programs, which include the mass wedding initiative.
Shanono emphasized that the state’s commitment to the program is aimed at promoting social stability, defending human rights, and fostering a fair and inclusive society. He also highlighted other key allocations in the budget, including N1 billion for Ramadan feeding, N955 million for manpower statistics surveys, general household surveys, and out-of-school statistics, and N1.049 billion for the purchase of printing machines, repairs of the general water system, and procurement of library equipment at the government printing press.
Additionally, N267.6 million has been budgeted for infrastructure upgrades, production and printing of an Islamic calendar, and welfare support for newly converted individuals. The government is also setting aside N589 million for security research, street begging intervention programs, and empowerment initiatives, while N200 million is allocated for office furniture procurement, maintenance of the Accountant General’s office, and development of Public Financial Management (PFM) software.
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The commissioner noted that the total approved budget for 2025 stands at N719.75 billion, marking a 31% increase from the initially submitted N549.16 billion by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the State House of Assembly. He further explained that the total recurrent expenditure is N262.67 billion, while the capital expenditure is N457.08 billion, reflecting a 65% increase compared to 2024.
Shanono attributed the budget increase to new revenue sources, including higher FAAC allocations due to subsidy removal and improved capital receipts. The total approved recurrent revenue for 2025 is projected to exceed N617 billion, with N86 billion expected from internally generated revenue and over N531 billion from FAAC allocations, compared to N380 billion in 2024. The capital receipts are projected at N74 billion, with a treasury opening balance of N29 billion.
The mass wedding initiative has drawn widespread attention, with some praising it as a bold social welfare intervention, while others question its budgetary priority amid pressing economic and infrastructural challenges in Kano.
