Nasarawa Assembly increases 2021 budget by N2.8bn
By Amina Mohammed, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has increased the 2021 appropriation bill by N2.8billion from the N112.92billion presented to the House for consideration and approval by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
The speaker of the House, Balarabe Abdullahi, made this known when the House deliberated and adopted the 2021 budget report of the House standing committee on Finance and Appropriation during the House proceedings at the Assembly Complex in Lafia.
Reason for increment
The speaker said that the increase of the 2021 appropriation bill was due to the introduction of Engineering and medical schools in Nasarawa State Univeristy Keffi, insecurity and many other factors.
He appreciated members for deliberating and adopting the reports of the committee for the overall development of the state.
“It is very salient for the committee to review some allocations due to their importance for example under the Nasarawa State University, the introduction of Engineering and medical school caused the increase of their allocation.
This and many other factors necessitated the increase.
“We recommend for approval and passage into law s bill to authorize the issuance from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state the sum of N115, 722, 814, 343.31k only as the total budget for the year 2021.
“N53, 464,156, 917 only as recurrent expenditure and N55, 240,925,695 only as capital expenditure.
“Similarly, the committee recommend the sum of N7,017,732,031 only as Consolidated Revenue funds Charges”, he said.
The speaker slated Monday, December 21, 2020 for the third reading of the bill.
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Tonko Tunga moved for the adoption of the committee’s report after deliberation.
The Deputy Minority Leader Luka Zhekaba seconded the motion after Mohammed Okpoku and David Maiyaki added their voices.
The House unanimously adopted the report.
It would be recalled that on November 17, 2020, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, presented the 2020 budget proposal of N112. 92b to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Nneka Ukachukwu
