Yakubu Busari
Plateau State Government has Proposed a budget estimate of Sixty Four Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Seven Naira (N64,279,689,007.00) only for the 2017 financial year.
Governor Simon Lalong who made the presentation before the state house at the plenary said the said estimate which is representing 48.44 percent of total budget estimate, is also less than the 2016 approved estimate with N9,091,385,953.00 or 12.39 percent.
Tagged the “Budget of Rescue and confidence building” the Governor explains that the administrative sector will gulp the sum of Thirteen Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty One Million, One Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira (N13,661,129,728.00) representing 21.25%.
He said the economic sector has an allocation of Thirty Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Three Million, One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight Naira (N30,323,108,738.00) representing 47.17%.
”SOCIAL SECTOR: Has an allocation of Nineteen Billion, Five Hundred and Eighty Two Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty One Naira (N19,582,452,541.00) representing 30.47%.
”LAW AND JUSTICE SECTOR: Has Seven Hundred and Twelve Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand Naira only (N712,998,000.00) representing 1.11%”.
He said his administration is determined to funding the activities of Education which is very vital to economic growth, hence the sum of Eleven Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifteen Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand and One Naira (N11,915,666,001.00) representing 18.54% of the capital estimate in the 2017 fiscal year is allocated in the budget. Out of this amount, the sum of One Billion Naira (N1,000,000,000.00) is earmarked for the completion of renovation work of Fifteen Secondary Schools (5 in each of the Three Senatorial Zones). Renovation of Technical College, Bukuru is allocated the sum of Twenty Five Million Naira (N25,000,000.00). The three Science Schools under renovation at Kuru, Mangun and Shendam are allocated the sum of Three Hundred Million Naira (N300,000,000.00) for their completion, while Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00) is for equipping the renovated schools.
He expressed regrets that the year 2016 has been economically very challenging due to the general economic recession in the country occasioned by a drastic fall in National Income from various revenue sources.
“The attendant effect of this is a drop in the allocation accruing to the state from the Federal Government, which has been left at the mercy of Money Banks for the servicing of debts that are owed by the State”.
” Despite these daunting challenges, we have remained focused in delivering on the promises made to our citizenry and today in keeping with the constitutional duty of office laying before you the proposed estimates of the State for the 2017 Fiscal Year.
“I recognize and commend your individual and collective sense of Patriotism, Commitment and selfless disposition for service to your constituents, despite the non-availability of financial resources.
These include your speedy passage of bills that led to our establishment of Plateau State Medium Enterprise Development Agency (PLASMEDA), Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Plateau State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PLPHCDA), The Public Procurement Law, The Tax Harmonization Bill and most recently passed the 2016 Supplementary Budget, amongst others.
“These efforts have confirmed your commitment to working in nexus with the Executive and be a part of history in our collective pursuits of giving the best to the generality of our citizens”
