By Ralph Madugu
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has announced that the current administration is projecting the sum of Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Four Naira only (N295,434,568,464.00) for the 2024 fiscal year.
He explained that the state is expected to raise this revenue from Internally Generated Revenue, government share of the Federation Accounts Allocation and Capital receipts.
Presenting the state’s 2024 Appropriation Bill before the State House of Assembly in Jos, the governor said that the vision and mission of his aadministration is to intervene in the area of security, agriculture, human capital development, public health, industrialization and aggressive revenue generation.
Tagged “The budget of New Beginnings,” the governor informed the lawmakers that the 2024 appropriation is aimed at “laying a solid foundation for the Peace and Prosperity of Plateau State.”
He added, “As we are all aware that the state went through numerous challenges in recent years especially in the area of insecurity; it becomes incumbent on us as a government to intensify effort to curtail the ugly situation in the best interest of the state, so that citizens lives and properties can be secured.”
Highlighting the sub-sectoral allocations, Gov. Mutfwang disclosed that Administration was allocated N22.187 billion, agriculture N10.186 billion followed by Commerce and Industries, N134.660 billion and information and Communication, N1.152billion.
Others are law and justice with N6.819 billion representing 4.96 per cent of the total capital estimate, while science and technology, land housing and urban development, tourism, culture and hospitality sub-sectors are to gulp N777.00billion, N20.627billion and N100 million naira respectively. Water, sanitation and energy is to gulp N15.988 billion, representing 11.59 per cent of the capital estimate, while N15.988 billion is earmarked for the education sub-sector. Environment and minerals sub-sectors received N1.763 billion and finance and economy N26.169. The health sub-sector received N5.453 billion. Works and transport got N14.376 billion while women, youth and sports got a share of N1.327 billion, representing 0.96 per cent of the total capital budget.
Gov. Mutfwang, while reiterating the desire of his administration to address the current infrastructural and human capital development deficit of the state within available resources, assured that it would not be business as usual as all hands would be on deck to achieve the set targets.
While calling on citizens to collaborate with government towards the judicious management of resources, he advised them promptly pay their taxes to relevant authorities.
“Similarly, to ensure that government revenues are judiciously managed, the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service has been mandated to synergize and collaborate with all revenue generating MDAs to ensure accountability and transparency in all processes.” While appealing to the lawmakers to ensure speedy consideration of the bill, the governor said: “I look forward to your mutual understanding and cooperation in the speedy passage of the budget to enable us commence implementation in good time. Indeed, your accelerated passage of the budget after all the legislative processes will demonstrate our partnership in the provision of dividends of democracy for our people.”