The Kano State government has allocated N2.5 billion for mass weddings in 2025, sparking mixed reactions. The initiative, part of the N719.7 billion budget, aims to promote social responsibility. Critics argue the funds should focus on job creation and education instead of marriage sponsorship.
The Kano State government has earmarked N2.5 billion for quarterly mass weddings in 2025 across its 44 local government areas. Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Musa Shanono, disclosed this while presenting the breakdown of the state's N719.7 billion budget, recently passed by the House of Assembly.
According to Shanono, the initiative falls under the N91.32 billion set aside for governance and service delivery programs. He stated that the mass weddings aim to promote social responsibility and strengthen societal values.
Beyond the mass weddings, the budget also includes N1 billion for Ramadan feeding and N955 million for manpower and household surveys, including statistics on out-of-school children. Additionally, N1.05 billion has been allocated for improving the Government Printing Press, water systems, and library equipment.
Other allocations include N267.6 million for Islamic programs and calendars, N589 million for security research and interventions, and N200 million for office furniture and public financial management software.
Shanono highlighted that the 2025 budget reflects a 31% increase from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s initial proposal and is 65% higher than the 2024 budget. Recurrent expenditure stands at N262.67 billion, while N457.08 billion is designated for capital projects.
However, the mass wedding initiative has sparked mixed reactions, with critics arguing that the funds should prioritize job creation and education over marriage sponsorship. Social media users have widely debated the decision, questioning its economic impact.
