Plans are underway to reduce the remuneration of political office holders, including introduction of special levies that will be channelled into Special Intervention Fund, in Sokoto State.

The Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, made this known to newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting in Sokoto on Wednesday. He did not disclose what percentage of the salary will be trimmed.

Umar said “the state’s budget is balanced as every aspect captured is backed by appropriate revenue and expenditure.

“A committee was set up to revitalise education and other sectors in terms of funding and execution to fulfil the desired goal of the change mantra in the state.’’

The Sokoto state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Bala Kokani, said the State Executive Council “is proposing to spend more than N161 billion in 2016.

“In the meeting, we deliberated on so many issues that covered all developmental strategies in moving the state forward.

“The budget will, however, cover recurrent and capital expenditures amounting to N50.5 billion and N100 billion respectively with 18 per cent dedicated to education.

“This is due to recent declaration of state of emergency in education sector. It is also in line with the desire of the present administration to improve all sectors of human development.”

Kokani said the budget will also give priority to the extraction of solid minerals, agricultural irrigation and health sectors.

“This is in order to create more revenue for the state as well as create job opportunities for our teeming youths.’