By Sunday Iduh
The Commissioner for Finance Mr David Olofu, Friday presented the 2023 budget estimate to the Benue State Executive Council (EXCO). Mr Olofu disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing after the emergency Exco meeting held at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
He stated that the budget was unanimously adopted for representation by Governor Samuel Ortom to the state House of Assembly at a later date.
Mr Olofu disclosed that the council considered and approved for the fiscal year 2023 budget N179,750,90,123.40 which he said is allocated to recurrent and capital expenditure.
He added that for recurrent expenditure, the budget stood at 106,191,893,868.58, also the allocation to personnel cost was 48,514,120,411.29, which he said represents 32.9% of the allocation. He further explained that the council approved the allocation of 73,558,196,254.82 which is 40.9% aggregate as capital expenditure.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Michael Inalegwu at the press briefing revealed that the exco has also approved the release of N58 million for the furnishing and landscaping of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) secretariat in Makurdi. He noted that the state is committed to the spiritual well-being of its people and the contributions of CAN to the state.
Mr Inalegwu also disclosed to journalists that, the exco made a personal presentation of VA Land Cruiser vehicle and a cash donation to the newly selected Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Bishop Oliver Abah, who he said is the first Northerner and Benue indigene to be elected prelate.
In the same vein, the exco has declared Fridays as work-free days which will commence from November 11, 2022 to January 27, 2023 to enable enable workers to harvest their crops.