The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed the 2023 appropriation bill of N149.3 billion into law.
This was against the initial N148.9 billion presented by Governor Abdullahi Sule to the House for consideration and approval.
Speaker of the House Balarabe Abdullahi, announced the passage of the bill into law during the House proceedings in Lafia the State capital on Tuesday.
Economic Growth
Balarabe Abdullahi said that the passed budget, if assented to by Governor Sule would accelerate economic growth and development, thereby improving the standard of living of the people of the state.
The Speaker urged the state government to ensure full implementation of the budget.
He also urged managements of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs to adhere strictly to budgetary provisions in the interest of peace and development.
” A Bill for a Law to Authorize the Issue Out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State( Appropriation) on the sum of N149, 315, 944, 207.62k for the Services of Nasarawa State Government to Complement for the Period Commencing From 1st January 2023 and Ending 31st December 2023.
” N90, 619, 580, 459.56 as Recurrent Expenditure and N58, 696,363,748.06k as Capital Expenditure.
” The 2023 appropriation bill is read for the third term and passed,” he said.
The House modified slightly the 2023 Budget of 148.9 billion where Nasarawa State House of Assembly got an upward review of 179.8 million naira, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Service Commission 45 million naira, and Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia 40 million naira with 375 million deducted from the budget of State Waste Management and Sanitation Agency thus jerking up the budget to 149.3 billion nairas with an increase of 357.8million.
Speaker Abdullahi thanked Honourable Members for their commitment to ensuring the speedy passage of the bill into law.
He also appreciated Heads of Ministries, Agencies, and Departments, MSAs for giving standing committees their cooperation while defending their budgets.
He directed the clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for Governor Sule’s assent.
He assured the executive arm of the House of readiness to continue to effectively synergize with them for the overall development of the State.
The Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Tanko Tunga, moved a motion for the passage of the bill into law.
Honourable Abel Bala, the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the 2023 appropriation bill into law.
It would be reported that on November 22, 2022, Governor Abdullahi Sule presented 2023 budget of N148, 958, 122, 525.05 to the Assembly for consideration and approval.
Other Bills
In a related development, the House passed two bills into second readings.
A Bill for A Law to Amend the Nasarawa State Area Courts Law 2022 and for Other Matters Related Therewith.
The Speaker said, “I commit A Bill for A Law to Amend the Nasarawa State Area Courts Law 2022 and for Other Matters Related Therewith to the House Committee on Judiciary to work on it and report back to the House after 3 weeks on resumption from our recess.
“I committee A Bill for A Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency Charged with the Responsibility of Tackling Poverty, Ensuring Equitable Distribution of Resources and Economic Growth in the State and for Other Matters Connected Therewith to the House Committee on Women Affairs in conjunction with House Committee on Public Account to work on the bill and report back to the House after two weeks on resumption from our recess,” he added
The Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Tanko Tunga, while moving motions for the two bills to scale second readings said that it was to enhance the effective dispensation of justice as only professional legal practitioners, who have been called to the bar would be a Judge of Area Courts.
He said the other bill was to tackle poverty, hunger and ensure equitable distribution of resources in the state.
The Minority Leader of the House, Honourable Abel Bala seconded the motions.
The House unanimously passed the two bills into second readings.
Confidence Okwuchi
