Governor, Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State yesterday Tuesday, 30th January 2018 signed the 2018
appropriation bill into Law. The occasion also had in attendance top state personalities from both the executives and the legislative arm of the state, held at the new Government House,
Little Rayfield, Jos
See Speech and Details of 2018 Appropriation Bill Below…
SPEECH OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, RT. HON. SIMON
BAKO LALONG AT THE SIGNING INTO LAW OF THE 2018 APPROPRIATION BILL ON THE 30TH
JANUARY, 2018 AT THE TWIN THEATRE, GOVERNMENT HOUSE LITTLE RAYFIELD, JOSPROTOCOL
Today marks another watershed in the history of
Plateau State. Not too long ago, to be precise, on Wednesday 20th of
December, 2017 I presented to the People of Plateau State on the Floor of the
House of Assembly a Budget christened a “Budget of Rescue and Consolidation”.
This was in fulfilment of Section 121 Sub Section (1) of the 1999 Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as Amended.Therein, the document contained an estimated of
the Sum totalling One Hundred and Forty
– Five Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty – Eight Million, Sixty – Six Thousand,
Three Hundred and Fifty – Two Naira (N145,488,066,352:00) only for the 2018
Fiscal Year.The budget was prepared based on the Macro –
Economic variables from the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Medium
Term Sector Strategy.What informed our christening the 2018 Budget “Rescue
and Consolidation” was principally to address the critical needs of our
people, having rescued and built confidence in them in the previous years since
we assumed office on May 29, 2015.Therefore, there is no gainsaying the fact that
what remains is to consolidate on the gains so far achieved this year; anchored
on the Five Pillar Policy Thrust of this Administration following our
philosophy of continuity as follows:1. Peace, Security and Good Governance
2. Human Capital Development and Social Welfare
3. Agriculture and Rural Development
4. Entrepreneurship and Industrialization, and
5. Physical Infrastructure and Environment
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, may I at
this juncture, re-iterate the co-operation the Executive Arm of Government has
enjoyed from the Legislature and Judiciary. It is in the light of the above
therefore, especially for the purpose for which we are gathered here today,
that members of the Plateau State House of Assembly rose to the challenge and
deliberated on the document and in record time, made the 2018 Appropriation
Bill a reality in which I am here to assent to.Prior to today, the Plateau State House of
Assembly in exercise of the powers conferred on it under section 120 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), passed into
law the 2018 Appropriation Bill to the tune of One Hundred and Forty-Six
Billion, Four Hundred and Six Million, Seventy – Four Thousand, Nine Hundred
and Twenty – One Naira (N146,406,074,921:00) only.Seventy Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million,
Four Hundred and Seventy – Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Naira
(N70,505,477,530:00)only,
representing 48.16% is earmarked for capital expenditure while 51.84%
is earmarked to be spent as Recurrent expenditure amounting to the sum of Seventy
– Five Billion, Nine Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Ninety – Seventy
Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety – One Naira (N75,900,597,391:00) only.This shows an increase of the sum of Nine
Hundred and Eighteen Million, Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty – Nine
Naira (N918,008,569:00) only, representing 0.63% from the initial
amount budgeted. This increase was as a result of the inclusion of Constituency
Projects and other critical areas of needs that warrant such expenditure.Having listened carefully to the synopsis of
this Bill as read by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, especially as it
pertains how this budget will be financed, may I therefore state categorically
that there is every need for all Agencies of Government to rise to the
challenge of remitting all revenues appropriately, failure of which our aim of
rescuing our people and consolidating on the gains already achieved becomes a
mirage.It is my believe that with commitment,
financial prudence and resilience, we will together, achieve what has been
earmarked for this fiscal year. While Government fulfils its own side of the
bargain, holding Government in trust for the rest of us, the people need to
reciprocate by paying their taxes and other levies as at when due; moreso that
Government alone cannot do it as no man is capable of clapping with one hand.In conclusion, May I use this opportunity to
thank the Honourable Members of the Plateau House of Assembly for making the
2018 Appropriation Bill available in record time.God bless us all.
Long Live Plateau State!
Long Live Nigeria!!
Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong
Executive Governor
