Plateau assembly passes N177.3 billion 2020 budget

Enugu, Rivers propose N169b, N530b as Ondo reorders appropriation by N15.7b

The Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday passed the 2020 appropriation bill of N177.3b following the report by the House Standing Committee on Appropriation presented at plenary by its Chairmen, Yahaya Adamu. Governor Simon Lalong had on November 26, 2019 presented a budget of N172.5b to the assembly for the 2020 fiscal year.

Tagged, “Budget of Rescue and Infrastructural Consolidation,” it appropriated N98b for recurrent expenditure and N74b for capital expenditure. Adamu explained that the budget was increased with N5b as recommended by the committee, against the initial figure of N172.5b presented by the governor.

Besides, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi presented a budget proposal of N169.5b for the 2020 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage. Tagged, “Budget of Responsive and Accountable Governance,” Ugwuanyi disclosed that his administration would consolidate and expand on the foundation to create an environment that would encourage development of human and natural resources.

He explained that the budget was higher than the 2019 budget of N109b because of “our continuing commitment to meeting the development expectations of our people through the provision of critical infrastructure in virtually all the sectors, including but not limited to roads, housing, education, health, agriculture, rural electrification, water, transport, women and youth empowerment.”

Relatedly, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday proposed a budget of N530.8b to the state lawmakers for the 2020 fiscal year.Christened, Budget of “Reassurance, Profound Impact for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity,” Wike explained that the budget has total recurrent expenditure of N156.6b, while capital expenditure will gulp N374.1b.He said the estimate for the 2020 capital expenditure amounted to nearly 70 per cent of the total budget.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State House of Assembly has reordered the 2019 budget by N15.7b.This followed a letter requesting the reordering of the budget figures transmitted by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and read at plenary yesterday by the Clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu.

The Assembly had earlier increased the 2019 Appropriation Bill from N190b to N193.9b before it was passed into law.Speaking on the development, Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Olamide Oladiji, argued that it was important for the lawmakers to be favourably disposed to it.