LAFIA – Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has presented the 2015 budget proposal of N107.9 billion to the state House Assembly for approval.
Al-Makura presented the budget, tagged “Budget of Sustainability,” in Lafia.
He said that the fiscal policy was aimed at fighting poverty, unemployment and ensures even development in the state.
The governor was represented by the state supervising Commissioner for Finance and Economic development, Alhaji Mohammed Dan’Azumi.
He said: “A total of N107,904,891,045 had been budgeted for the state 2015 fiscal year appropriation bill in which the recurrent expenditure stand at N63,431,415,954, representing 58.79 per cent, while the capital expenditure estimate is N44,473,475,091, representing 41.21 per cent of the budget.
“This shows a marginal decrease of N5 billion or 4.79 per cent lower than the 2014 appropriation bill of N113 billion approval by the House of Assembly.”
According to him, the economic sector has the highest allocation of N46.19 billion, followed by social sector with N30.04 billion.
Administration was earmarked N24.43 billion while Law/Justice sector has the least allocation of N2.88 billion.
Al-Makura announced free education from primary to secondary level, and free education to physically challenged persons from the primary to higher institution level.
He added that the budget would focus on the completion of all ongoing projects as well as the prioritisation of new projects, construction, expansion and rehabilitation of infrastructure in educational institutions, promotion of science education.
Others include construction, upgrade and rehabilitation of healthcare facilities as well as free healthcare services for the physically challenged persons in the state and wealth creation through youth empowerment scheme, among others.
The governor commended the state lawmakers and the people of the state for their cooperation and understanding, urging them not to relent in their efforts in promoting peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.
Besides, Al-Makura urged the lawmakers to pass the budget without delay to enable the state government deliver democracy dividends to the people.
Responding, the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Musa -Mohammed, promised a speedy passage of the budget.
He urged the governor to publish the state financial statement of account for 2012/2013 for public consumption.
It will be recalled that Al-Makura had presented a budget proposal of N114 billion in 2014, in which the legislature approved N113 billion.