By GAMBO ARABAT, Lafia

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Friday presented the 2024 budget proposal of N199.9 billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

Acting Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, who received the Appropriation Bill, assured Gov. Sule and the people of the State of giving the budget proposal accelerated consideration and passage.

The Governor told the lawmakers that the bill when passed into law, if passed into law, would give him the zeal to complete ongoing projects and existing ones,as well as initiate new ones for the overall development of the state.

He pointed out that his administration would continue to be anchored on transparency, accountability and rule of law, as well as transparency for the overall development of the State.

He christened the 2024 Appropriation Bill “Budget of Renewed Commitment”.

Addressing the lawmakers, Governor Sule said: “I am delighted to lay before you a total budget size of N199, 879, 370,709.43 for the 2024 fiscal year.

“A total of N112, 925,350,954.18, representing 56 % of the total budget is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure, while the sum of N86, 954,019,755.50, representing 44% of the total budget, is set aside as Capital Expenditure for the year 2024.

“The Budget for the various sectors is as follows: Administrative Sector: Education- N41.9bn, Health N27.5bn, Environment N5.5bn, Local Government N6.3bn, Finance N13.1bn, Trade and Investment N3.8bn, Ministry of Science and Technology N1.7bn,Ministry of Works- N22.7bn, Water Resources N4.1bn, Lands and Urban Development N8.6bn, State Assembly N4.3bn and Information, Culture and Tourism N 2.6bn.”

The Governor assured the House and the people of the State of full implementation of the budget, if finally passed into law.

Rt. Hon Abel Yakubu Bala, the Acting Speaker, after receiving the document, appreciated Governor Sule for the timely presentation of the budget and commended the Governor for his transparency and fiscal financial discipline.

“Your Excellency, during the oversight function, preliminary reports indicate that since the creation of Nasarawa State, Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) has never be high and above projection.

“Infrastructural development has also received a boost and for this, we commend you most sincerely,” he said.

The Acting Speaker reassured that the 2024 Appropriation Bill would be given expeditious hearing and would be passed into law before Dec. 31, 2023.