“… as education gets highest allocation…”

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

The Acting Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala while receiving the budget in Lafia today assured Gov. Sule and the people of the State of giving the budget accelerated passage.

The Governor said that the budget if passed into law would complete the ongoing projects and existing ones with more to be initiated for the overall development of the State.

Gov. Sule said that his administration would continue to achored on transparency, accountability and rule of law as well as transparency for the overall development of the State.

The Governor tagged the 2024 Budget as ” Budget of Renewed commitment”

” I am delighted to lay before you a total budget size of N199, 879, 370,709.43 for the 2024 fiscal year

“Recurrent Expenditure- A total of N112, 925,350,954.18 representing 56 % of the total budget is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure.

“Capital Expenditure- 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.

Sule assured the Assembly and the people of the State of full implementation of the budget, if finally passed into law.

Besides, he said that his administration has prioritized infrastructural development in order to improve on the standard of living of the people of the State.

Sule also said that his administration has employed 3500 secondary school teachers for quality education in the State.

He further said that his administration has absorbed casual staff in to permanent and pensionable appointments.

Responding, Rt. Hon Abel Yakubu Bala, the Acting Speaker of the House appreciated Gov. Sule for good presentation of the budget.

Abel congratulated Gov. Sule over his well deserved merittorius elevation to the status of a Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers.

He commended Gov. Sule 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 have also received a boost and to this, we commend you most sincerely,” he said

The Acting Speaker appreciated Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the former Speaker of the House for his remarkable achievements in the passage of many bills and resolutions in the last eight years and six months.

” He has contributed immensely to the stability of the legislature and the State.

” Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi is a team player, dedicated, goal getter, transparent, hard working and resilient.

” He is an asset to this State and we shall continue to tap from his wealth of experience and reservour of leadership style,” he said

The Acting Speaker reassured that the 2024 Appropriation Bill will be given expeditious action which to be passed into law before Dec. 31st, 2023″

It would be recalled that on Nov.22, 2023, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, presented N148.9bn 2023 budget to Nasarawa Assembly for consideration and approval.