The Taraba State Lawmakers have passed the 2023 budget to the tune of over N173 billions.
This comes less than two weeks after the Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku presented the 2023 estimated budget to the State House of Assembly,
The budget which was earlier pegged at N172, 734, 537,459.40 by the governor, was observed to have been Jacked up by N500 Million.
The bill was observed on Wednesday following the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation during plenary.
Answering questions from Journalists shortly after the passage, the speaker, Joseph Albasu Kunini, said the increase has become necessary in order to carry along the State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC.
The speaker who noted that the budget was increased by N500 Million, observed that no fund was allocated to SIEC in the budget earlier presented to the House by the state governor.
The additional funds, as envisaged by the members, will enable the leadership of the SIEC to conduct local government elections across the sixteen local government councils of the state.
On why an accelerated passage was given to the budget which our correspondent observed to have been presented to the House barely two weeks ago, the aim, according to the speaker, was to enable the government to continue with its developmental projects.
Also citing the forthcoming yuletide, this he said has become necessary in order to enable the members to embark on recess.
Confidence Okwuchi
