From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
The Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has presented the sum of N311.3 billion budget estimate for 2024 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Presenting the budget tagged “Budget of Moving Forward”, Gov. Agbu disclosed it was aimed to foster sustainable growth, social development, agriculture and rural development, pointing out that the budget was not just a financial document, but a blueprint for the future of Taraba and generations yet-unborn.
On the proposal, Gov. Agbu said the sum of N111.6 billion representing 35.9% is for recurrent expenditure, while N119.7 billion representing 64.1% is for capital expenditure.
Also, in the 2024 sub-sector allocations of the budget, education, health, and works/infrastructure development received the lion share of N43.2 billion, N33.054 billion and N24.8 billion, respectively just as youth and sports development, cooperative and poverty alleviation and waste management ministries came behind with N2.6 billion, N2.3 billion and N2.9 billion.
The governor said his administration came on board with a five-fingered mantra of education, security, women and youth empowerment, infrastructural development and health, noting that the 2024 budget will place specific emphasis on those areas.
He further said that, the budget strives to advance the socio-economic development agenda through strategic investments in education, infrastructure, Health care, agriculture, security and governance, adding that by prioritising these sectors and carrying out prudent financial management practices, the state will achieve sustainable growth, improve service delivery and enhance the overall development of the people.
While admonishing the Speaker of the House and his team for support and cooperation, Kefas solicited for consideration on the bill with the view to fostering understanding for collective commitment to the well-being and future of the state.
Receiving the 2024 appropriation bill, the Speaker, Hon. John Kizito Bonzena, commended the Governor for the tremendous successes recorded in the state during the period under review.
The speaker who enumerated some achievements recorded by Gov. Kefas to include the introduction of compulsory free education from primary to post-primary/50% reduction of tuition fees in tertiary state owned institution, security, prompt payment of salary of workers/pensioners in the state and general rehabilitation of infrastructures and successful conduct of the recent local government election among others, assured that the House will speed up deliberations on the budget for quick passage on a record time to enable him continue with people’s-oriented projects in the state.
