From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong on Friday presented an estimated budget of N139,357,144,980.38 billion for the 2023 fiscal year to Plateau State legislators for consideration as budget for the upcoming year.
The governor, who performed the ceremony on the floor of the state Assembly complex, said the proposed budget which is tagged “Budget of Infrastructural Consolidation and Transition” is to tackle challenges faced by citizens, particularly completing all projects ongoning in the state.
“Having considered the plight of citizens, government is proposing to spend the sum of One Hundred and Thirty-Nine Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Naira, Thirty-Eight Kobo (N139,357,144,980.38) only in the 2023 fiscal year,” he said.
The proposed 2023 appropriation bill shows an increase of N32,649,877,338.26 only on the 2022 approved estimate which was N106,807,267,642.12 only.
The amount presented consists of N77,650,642,030.85 only as recurrent expenditure, representing 55.72% of the total budget, and N61,706,502,949.53 only as capital component which represents 44.27% of the total budget.
Speaker of the state Assembly, Yakubu Sanda assured the governor of the legislators’ commitment to accord the bill the desired attention needed.
“In doing this, we will pay close attention to details, guided by the legislative requirement of due diligence and thorough scrutiny, given that this is a budget aimed at consolidating the infrastructural facilities of the state and ensure a peaceful transition to the next government,” he said.
Sanda warned that the House will not hesitate to call for sanction of any public officer who fails to meet his or her constitutional obligations, including the failure to do their paper work as and when due. He said all commissioners, chief executives as well as heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are required to appear in person during the budget defense exercise as they will not tolerate any flimsy excuse.