By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo.
Bilateral budget discussion for 2025 fiscal year operations has been declared open in Taraba state.
At the ceremony, Governor Agbu Kefas who declared it open was represented at the event by permanent secretary, budget and economic planning, ministry of finance, Alh. Umar Bello.
He disclosed that the objective of the bilateral discussion was to seek out areas of common interest that can advance together to enhance true productive discussion in the next one week.
According to the governor “we are commencing the discussions on the 2025 budget which will enable the ministry to collect and collate inputs into next year’s budget. Similarly, the ministry has carried out stakeholder engagements/consultations in the three senatorial zones and wish to solicit for your maximum support to enable us to succeed in the task of moving our state forward to a greater height. I am confident that with your insight, expertise and collaboration we will achieve our mutual objectives.” he said.
He appreciated the accounting officers of (MDAs) resolve to lead their management staff to this all important discussion as their inputs will be treated with all seriousness it deserves.
In its remarks, the permanent secretary, budget and economic planning, Alh. Umar Bello, urged participants to come out with a comprehensive reality of budget format, noting that previous capital expenditure estimates are not reliable and not capital in nature.
Also in a remark, permanent secretary, ministry of finance, Mr. Douglas Kisaba said current bilateral discussion will no longer be business as usual pointing out that all hands must be on deck to forestall mistakes of the past during presentations as he encouraged participants to make positive inputs that will stand the test of time in this current dispensation.
Meanwhile, in her contribution, permanent secretary, political affairs office of the secretary to the government of the state (SGS), Mrs. Jemimah G. Nwunuji observed that this year’s budget defense was a complete budget of peace.
According to her, governor Kefas is not leaving any stone unturned till total transformation of change takes place in the state.
End.
