Before the State Assembly, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong submitted an estimated N139,357,144,980.38 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
Lalong said the proposed budget, which is titled “Budget of Infrastructural Consolidation and Transition,” was proposed to spend after considering the condition of the residents when he presented the budget on the House floor today, Friday.
He said, “Having taken into account the plight of the people, 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.
The amount presented consists of Seventy-Seven Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Million, Six Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Thirty Naira, Eight-Five Kobo (N77,650,642,030.85) only as recurrent expenditure, which accounts for 55.72% of the total budget, and Sixty-One Billion, Seven Hundred and Six Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira
This indicates an increase from the authorized estimate for 2022, which was (N106,807,267,642.12) alone, of 32 billion, 639 million, 837 thousand, 300,328 naira, and 26 kobo (N32,649,877,338.26).
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda, responded by assuring the governor that the House was prepared and determined to give the bill the attention and serious consideration it merited.
Given that this is a budget intended to consolidate the state’s infrastructural facilities and enable a smooth transition to the next government, he stated, “We will pay close attention to details, guided by the legislative necessity of due diligence and rigorous review.”
The House will not hold back in demanding sanctions against any public official who does not uphold his or her constitutional duties, including failing to complete paperwork by the deadline. He stated that all Commissioners, Chief Executives, and Heads of MDAs must physically attend the Budget Defense Exercise because they will not accept any lame justification.
Given that Governor Simon Lalong’s term will come to an end the next year, today’s budget presentation marks the final by the rescue administration.
The state Executive members, former Deputy Speaker of the 8th State Assembly and member representing Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam, PKK, Yusuf Gagdi, APC State Chairman Rufus Bature, APC Governorship Candidate Nentawe Yilwatda, former speakers of the House, Chief Judge Grand Khadi, among others, accompanied the governor at the budget presentation.
Prior to the budget presentation, the House screened and approved the Governor’s proposal for Mr. Aaron Mwelsen Pyelshak to be appointed Auditor General for Local Government. Additionally, three bills were first read in the plenary on Friday