The Benue State House of Assembly has passed into law the appropriation bill of N189,483 511, 025 for the year 2020.
The approval came about 45 days after Governor Samuel Ortom presented a budget of N189, 483,511,025 to the House for the 2020 fiscal year, on November 12th, 2019.
The 2020 proposed budget christened Budget of “Advancement, Growth and Development” is to ensure adequate provision for implementation of programmes that reflate the economy and accelerate growth as well as completion of on-going projects and the consistent payment of emoluments.
The house approved the passage after it considered and adopted the report and recommendations of House Standing Committee on Appropriation presented at plenary by its Chairman, Peter Enemari.
The appropriation committee had looked at the following bills, “A bill for a law to make provisions for the financing of the appropriation for the year ending the 31st day for December, 2020 and for purposes connected therewith.
“A bill for a law to make provisions for the appropriation of recurrent expenditure for the year ending the 31st day of December and for purposes connected therewith.
READ ALSO: 2020: Ortom Presents Budget Of N189.4 Billion To Benue Assembly
“A bill for a law to make provisions for the appropriation of capital expenditure for the year ending the 31st day of December 2020 and for the purposes connected therewith.”
A breakdown of the budget figure as approved by the House indicates N114,548, 525,887 for recurrent expenditure, N74,934,955,138 is meant for capital expenditure and N43,109,050,976 is for deficit financing.
In the approved budget, the economic sector got the highest vote of N73,790,691,145, the Social sector got the second highest allocation of N64,613,349,889 with the administrative sector, Law and justice getting N48,278, 003, 228 and N2,801,446,763 respectively.
The 2020 proposed estimates is less than the 2019 approved estimates by 10,261532, 885 and from the findings of the House, it performed abysmally on revenue and capital expenditures.
Announcing the passage, Speaker Titus Uba thanked members for achieving the feat saying passing the bill in record time is not a shoe but for the betterment of the entire Benue people and for the success of the state government.
Mr. Uba also appreciated the media, staff and the Benue people for their support and cooperation to members throughout the year.
The house adjourned to December 30th 2019.
