The plateau State ministry of works and Transport has been allocated
the sum of N16,917,700,000.00 representing 24.85 percent of the capital
estimate which also made it the highest more than any other sector of
the economy in the State
The Commissioner for budgeting
identified Tourism Sector in the 2019 budget “home of peace and tourism”
might not have been reflected but only 337,900.000.00 million, which
represents 0.50 percent has been allocated to the tourism sector from a
total size budget of 153 billion naira.
The judiciary also has
the sum of 1.3 billion, representing 1.52 percent with the attention
given to the health sector, as the sum of 4 billion naira, which
represents 6.85 percent, was budgeted for health care delivery.
The Commissioner for finance Mr. Sylvester Wallangko disclosed that the
total sum for capital expenditure for 2019 budget amounted to 68
billion, representing 44.33 percent, out of the total size budget of 153
billion naira only was earmarked for projects.
The educational sector received a boost, as the sum of 12 billion
naira is allocated to it, representing 17.94 percent earmarked for
educational activities this financial year.
Another sector which the 2019 budget favoured was Administration and governance which got the sum of 12 billion naira.
Breaking
it down the agricultural sector seemed not to have given the desire
recognition, only the sum of 2 billion naira, presenting 3.9 percent was
allocated to agriculture which is one of the revenues generating and
self-employment avenue.
The revenue generating sector which could
not be given desire attention was “Environment and mineral development”
has only 1.3 percent allocated to it, from the 153 billion naira budget
for the ongoing year
Housing and urban development got the sum of 5 billion, representing 7.6 percent.
It will be recalled that governor Simon Lalong had recently told
members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that a housing scheme for
state civil servant is captured in 2019 budget.
Women and youth
development have been allocated the sum of 1.9 billion, representing
2.88 percent; while information and communication have 1.4 billion,
representing 2.12 percent only.
The commissioner solicited for the support of all citizens to enable the government to effectively implement the 2019 budget.
Mr.
Wallangko stressed that “for us (government) to be able to implement
these strategic and critical developmental projects and programmes
contained in the budget, a lot of finance is require.”
Added that
“as such, implore on our citizens to cooperate with revenue authorities
in the payment of their taxes and other levies, in the midst of these
economic challenges.”
The 2019 budget has a total size of 153
billion naira, making an additional increase of seven billion naira from
the 2018 budget, which was 146 billion naira.
This was revealed
by the commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning Sylvester Wallangko
during the 2019 budget breakdown at the conference hall of cabinet
office Jos Wednesday.
According to the commissioner, the emphasis will be on the completion of the on-going project.
Other
allocations to other sub-sectors of the economy are education with the
sum of N12,214,336,930.00 representing 17.94 percent. Administration
with an allocation of N12,044,670,764.00 representing 17.94 percent.,
Lands, Housing and Urban Development allocated the sum of
N51,226,525,500.00 representing 7.68 percent, Health, N4,663,942,000.00
representing 6.85 percent water resources N5,134,118,000.00 representing
7.50 percent, Agriculture and Rural Development N2,674,850,000.00
representing 3.93 percent and commence and industry with the allocation
of the sum of N2,408,725,000.00 representing 3.54 percent. Others are;
Women, Youths and Sports Development with the sum of N1,963,000
information and communication N1,444,394,000.00 representing 2.12
percent, Judiciary N1,032,100,000.00 representing 1.52 percent
Environmental and Mineral Development N905,464,600.00 representing 1.33
percent, Finance, N901,674,500.00 representing 1.32 percent; Legislature
N2,201,700.00 representing 1.28 percent and tourism and Hospitality
N337,900,000.00 representing 0.50 percent of the capital estimate.
The
commissioner said this year’s budget tagged “Budget of Rescue and
Infrastructural growth” was aimed at consolidating on the
infrastructural development of the state adding that the budget estimate
was projected based on the Macro-Economic Variables from the Medium
Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Medium Term Sector Strategy
(MTSS) of the State.
Wallangko said that as usual, the
implementation of the budget would still be anchored on the 5-Pillar
policy thrust of the administration with an emphasis on the completion
of the on-going projects and programmes.