Abel Leonard/Lafia
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, presented the 2021 budget proposal of N112. 92 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Speaker, RT. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, who received the budget after Sule’s presentation assured the state government of speedy passage of the budget for the overall development of the state.
Sule, who tagged the budget as “Budget of Economic Recuperation” said that it was in compliance with section 121(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The governor said that his administration’s policy is anchored on transparency, accountability and prudence management of lean resources.
” The total expenditure outlay of the 2021 estimate is in the sum of One Hundred and Twelve Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty-three Million, One Hundred and Seventy-four Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-three Naira (N112,923,174,543) only.
” A total of Fifty-one Billion, Fifty Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Naira (N51,050,456,817) only representing 45.21% of the budget is earmarked for Non-debt Recurrent Expenditure which consist of both personnel and overhead costs.
” The sum of Fifty-four Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty-four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-five Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety-five Naira (N54,854,985,695) only representing 48.58% of the total budget is earmarked as Capital Expenditure for the year 2021.
” Similarly, the sum of Seven Billion, Seventeen Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-two Thousand, Thirty-one Naira (N7,017,732,031) has been allocated to Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges for debt servicing, pension and gratuity. This represents 6.21% of the total budget.
According to the governor, the budget framework shows an increase of N4,478,368,930) only over and above the Fiscal Year 2020 original budget estimate translating to 4.13% increase.
The governor outlined the 2021 appropriation bill major sectoral allocation as follows- Infrastructure -N19.6 billion (17.36%), Education/Science & ICT-N35.4 billion (31.35%)Governance/Security&General Administration-N14.3 billion (12.66%),Legislation-N2.7 billion (2.39%),Law & Justice-N3.8 billion (3.37%), Finance/Investment/Trade-N5.7 billion (5.05%) and Health-N11.4 billion (10.10%).
The governor urged the members to give the budget speedy passage to enable the state government complete ongoing projects as well as executes other new developmental projects across the state.
He assured the assembly of full implementation of the budget if finally passed into law for the overall development of the state.
Responding, the Speaker of the House, RT. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, assured the state government of speedy passage of the budget.
He has also saluted the governor for his efforts in addressing the security challenges facing the state.
Balarabe-Abdullahi also assured the governor for an effective collaboration in order to bring the much needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
It would be recalled that on December 4, 2019, Gov. Abdullahi Sule has presented the 2020 budget proposal of N100.52 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Governor Sule, who tagged it as “Budget of Inclusive Development”, said that it was anchored on his administration’s policy of transparency, accountability and prudence.
Meantime, a Bill for a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Motor Vehicle Administration and Traffic Management Agency and other Matters Related Thereto scaled second reading during the House Proceeedings.
Hon Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the bill to scale second reading and it was seconded by Hon Danladi Jatau, the Minority Leader of the House. .
The speaker committed the bill to the House Committee on Work to work on it and report back on 22nd December, 2020.
