Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong on Tuesday presented a budget of
₦172,596,317,577.00 only to the State House of Assembly for approval
for 2020 budget.
The budget christened “Budget of Rescue and Infrastructural
consolidation has a recurrent expenditure of N98 billion,
representing 56 per cent of the budget .
Lalong said the budget was tailored after his administration’s three
-pillar policy for development, “and speedy economic transformation of
the state.
He said ” From the period we assumed office apart from entrenching peace
and security, instilling confidence in the people, we took a lot of
steps to re-establish fiscal responsibility. We also ensured sustainable
development in the different sectors of the economy.
He said “we built the 2020 Budget around the idea that our state has always done best when everyone gets a fair share.
“Our approach to sustainable governance policy implementation and staff
welfare will continue to be given priority consideration. For example,
the issue of the New National Minimum Wage has recently been in the
front-burner. ”
“Government appreciates the Organised Labour and Civil Servants as
partners in progress. We see the yearnings or demands for increase in
the minimum wage as a genuine source for motivation, improved
productivity and general improvement in the living conditions of our
Civil Servants and their families. ”
“I have accordingly approved the constitution of government committee to
negotiate with the organised labour with a view to coming out with
modalities for implementation.”
He further said “We share in the challenges faced by all and sundry in
the light of some market forces that could defeat the good intention
behind salary increase. With the Bill now passed into Law at the
National Level and accented to by Mr. President, we are also fully
committed to its implementation and have therefore made provisions in
the coming fiscal year to address the issues. ”
“Similarly, as part of our new strategic plans for sustainable Human and
Infrastructural Growth, we intend to upscale our Internally Generated
Revenue through levies and rates for social services in accordance with
Extant Laws. ”
“Through our planned Economic Summit too, we hope to improve our
investments in productive sectors of the economy to increase our
earnings, provide some palliative measures for the citizens, as well as
fund some of our development programmes.'”
“Furthermore, execution of Projects and Programmes will continue to
occupy front burner in our determination to deliver efficient services
to the people.
It is in this respect that The Project Monitoring and Result Delivery
Unit domiciled in the Office of the Chief of Staff has been established
under Office of the Executive Governor with clear mandate to ensure
diligent tracking of Projects and Programmes implementation by all the
MDAs.”
“While urging the Honourable House to diligently peruse and deliberate
on the Budget, he said i look forward for your cooperation in its
speedy passage to enable Government commence implementation and service
delivery from onset of the New Year.
“An accelerated Passage will also be a panacea for the State to qualify
for the World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and
Sustainability (SFTAS), Disbursement Link Indicators I and II (DLIs
I&II) and Eligibility Criteria (EC I).”
“We need Plateau State in the next few years to be ranked among the
highest in skill development; highest – Educated Workers; the most
Advanced Transportation and Communication Network and the firm
commitment to peaceful co-existence and renewed security of lives and
property of our citizens.”
This, it is hoped will be the panacea to inclusive growth and
self-reliance. In this way, we need not to be burdened by years of debt
and debt clearance, arrears payment, deficit financing etc, which
characterised a greater part of our Budget in the past.
“We would continue to pursue Policies, Programmes, Projects and
activities that will shore up our State and our Fiscal situation. ” he
added .
Photo Credit : Josiah Jenvulu