Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku has laid the 2023 budget proposal before the legislature.
The Governor presented his last budget proposal which he tagged budget of
“Fulfilment Rescue Mission and Transmission” to the tune of N172, 734,537,450.40 with increase of N22,949, 641,62.50 representing 15.2 Percent.
He gave the breakdown of the Budget to include,
Total Budget N172, 734, 537, 459.40, Increase N22, 949, 641, 062.58 (15.32) Percent, Revenue Projection N172, 734, 537, 459.40, Opening Balance N600, 000, 000.00 (0.35) Percent, Independent Revenue N19, 388, 694, 342.40 (11.22) Percent, Government share of FAAC (Statutory Revenue) including VAT N72, 871, 257, 304.00 (42.19) Percent, Aids and Grants N52, 372, 904, 402.00 (30.32) Percent, Capital Development Fund Receipts N27, 501, 681, 411.00 (15.92) Percent, Total Expenditure estimate N74,556,829,088.15 (43.16), Total Personnel cost N37,620,378,556.00 (21.67) Percent, Current cost N36,936,449,532.15 (21.38) Percent, Capital Expenditure estimate N98,177,708,371.25 (56.84) Percent, Economic N59,790,357,650.75 (34.61) Percent, Social Services N27,259,529,327.90 (15.78) Percent, Law and Justice N3,466,261,832.00 (2.01) Percent and Administrative N7,661,559,560.60 (4.44) Percent.
The presentation and laid it before the State House of Assembly was done during a plenary held.
While presenting the estimate, the Governor said that it is slightly more than the 2022 budget size because his administration is determined to complete all ongoing projects across the state before the expiration of his first tenure on May 29, 2023.
He said that the inplimentation of the 2023 Budget will be executed in a manner that the trust of Government’s fiscal policy is address and enablers that will promote service delivery are sustain.
The Governor explained that the budget has an increase of 15.2 Percent over the last year’s budget proposal stressing that emphasis would be made in completion of all the ongoing projects across the state noting that new ones can only be considered where it becomes absolutely necessary.
The Governor further explained that despite the dwindling economic challenges that affected the performance of previous budget proposals, his administration has made significant achievements in critical sectors of health, education, agriculture and human capital development.
While commending the harmonious relationship with the 9th Assembly in the state, Darius Dickson Ishaku also appealed for the speedy passage of the budget to allow timely implementation.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Prof. Joseph Albasu Kunini said:
“Appropriation Bill before the Honourable House Your Excellency and esteemed entourage you are all most welcome.
“Permit me to remark here that the occasion we are about witnessing is provided for in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
” It will be noted that this is the Seventh time the Executive Governor of Taraba State Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku will be presenting and laying before the Honourable House the Appropriation Bill since he was first sworn in as the democratically elected governor of Taraba State on 29th May, 2015. This budget presentation is therefore, the last since the tenure of this Administration will end on 29th May, 2023.
He said that, the present administration has witnessed an unprecedented level of development in the State in all ramifications.
“It is interesting to note that in the almost eight years of this administration a total 176 Bills and Executive Orders have been processed by this Honourable House for assent by His Excellency the Executive Governor.
Indeed since the creation of Taraba State no administration has achieved this feat. In fact the socio-economic and political life of Taraba State will never remain the same considering the transformation experienced under the “General” of “The Rescue Mission”.
“Taraba is “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku is “God’s” gift to Taraba State. Your Excellency we in Taraba State will remain grateful and will continue to appreciate you.
“Your Excellency may wish to recall that in order to conform with international best practices, a town hall meeting was convened on the 10th November, 2022 at the Jolly Nyame Stadium for the people of Taraba State to make their inputes in the 2023 Appropriation Bill.
“This is unprecedented
in the history of the budget process in Taraba State is also commendable as it encourages citizenship participation in the budget process.
He therefore appeal to the incoming Administration to borrow a leat from the Governor in this respect.
“As the 2023 Appropriation Bill is presented and laid on the table of this Honourable House today, I crave the indulgence of my distinguished colleagues to say that we are not unmindful of the imperatives of the early passage of this Bill into Law.
“Consequent upon this therefore, I wish to humbly assure Your Excellency and indeed the people of Taraba State that this Honourable House will as usual be diligent in processing this Appropriation Bill.
“We shall in no distant time perform all the Legislative processes, procedures, and conventions to pass this Bill into Law for His Excellency the Executive Governor’s assent.
“I wish to use this rare privileged opportunity to very specially commend and appreciate Your Excellency for the cordial working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.
“Indeed as a presiding officer, I count myself as a privilege to work closely with you sir. I have gained a lot and will continue to tap from the wealth of your experience in my future endeavours.
“My prayer is that, the Almighty God in His infinite wisdom will continue to guide and protect us all. In the same vein let me very sincerely appreciate my colleagues Honourable Members for keeping faith in my leadership. Indeed your individual and collective support have been the basic tonic of my successes.
“To the rest of all, others too numerous to mention, that, have always contributed in whatever form for my success, I say thank you so very much. May the Almighty God continue to guide and protect us all.
“It is my prayers that the Almighty God grant Your Excellency and entourage journey mercies back to your various destinations – he said.
Detail of the Speech reads:
SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF TARABA STATE, ARC. DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU, AT THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 BUDGET TO THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON TUESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER, 2022
Mr. Speaker,
Honourable Members
With gratitude to God Almighty, I am pleased to present to you the Budget Estimates once again that will be appropriated for 2023 fiscal year. The 2023 Budget is prepared in a very crucial period of both our political and economic life. Politically, because it will be a year of transition from one administration to another while economically, because of the impact of the flood that has devastated at most twenty-one (21) States including Taraba State thus affecting our cropping season and investments. Equally the effects of bandits and kidnappers on our citizens’ lives and their socio-economic ventures and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war have brought untold hardship with attendant consequences on all spheres of our economy.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, today’s presentation will be my last outing to this Honourable House on appropriation. For the past seven years, I have been privileged to place before you what my government intends to do or carry out for the benefits of our citizenry for seven times. Today’s 2023 Budget proposal will be eighth and final budget of this administration. As I reflect on our laudable intentions for these years that have lapsed, they were indeed full of expectations and anxieties. This is because of our resolve to rescue the State from the course of her drift and place her on the pathway of development. The milestones we have recorded as government were due largely with the contributions of the legislature and I will not take that for granted. Let me at this juncture appreciate your enduring partnership in this regard. This has made our appropriation processes and service delivery over the years less cumbersome and seamless.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, during this address, as it is our custom, I will review our scorecard of the 2022 Approved Budget before presenting the proposals of the next fiscal year. The full details of the proposals will be given to the Honourable House by the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
OVERVIEW OF THE 2022 BUDGET
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may recall that this Honourable House appropriated the sum of One Hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira, Eighty-Two Kobo only (₦149,784,896,396.82) for the services of the State Government for the 2022 fiscal period.
This was broken down into Seventy-Eight Billion, Seventy-Two Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-Nine Naira, Ninety Kobo only (₦78,072,587,679.90) for recurrent expenditure while the balance of Seventy-One Billion, Seven Hundred and Twelve Million, Three Hundred and Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Ninety-Two Kobo only (₦71,712,308,716.92) was for capital investment.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in the year under review, some unforeseen exigencies of government expenditure occurred which warranted the revision of the 2022 Approved Budget.
As at 30th September 2022, provisional figure shows that a total sum of Eighty-Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Two Naira, Fifty-Eight Kobo only (₦89,925,858,242.58) accrued from the recurrent and capital sources of revenue.
This is broken down as follows: Opening Balance of Two Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-Three Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-Seven Naira, Thirty Kobo only (₦2,333,471,187.30), Government share of Federal Statutory Revenue (Value Added Tax inclusive) of Forty-Five Billion, Five Hundred and Forty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Eighty Kobo only (₦45,544,535,814.80) and Independent Revenue of Eleven Billion, Thirty Million, Fifty-Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira, Twenty-Nine Kobo only (₦11,030,056,833.29). Others are Aids and Grants of Twenty-Six Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira, Five Kobo only (₦26,850,820,455.05) and Capital Receipts of Four Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Two Naira, Fourteen Kobo only (₦4,166,973,952.14) out of which Government had expended the sum of Fifty-Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-Four Naira, Fifty-Eight Kobo only (₦54,773,387,334.58) on recurrent activities and Thirty-Five Billion, One Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eight Naira, Zero Kobo only (₦35,152,470,908.00) for capital outlay. The expenditure profile shows that 60.91% of the total receipt went for recurrent expenditure and 39.09% went for capital expenditure. The total percentage performance of the Budget therefore stood at 60% as against the expected 75% for the period under review.
Owing to the performance stated above, the government has been able to execute the following projects as can be seen below:
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it has been a giant stride in our intervention in the agriculture sector notwithstanding the challenges of the flood this year and activities of bandits and kidnappers. The State Government in consolidating on the gains of its rescue efforts in the agricultural sector procured and distributed 805 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizers i.e. 525 metric tonnes of Urea and 280 metric tonnes of NPK at a subsidized rate to farmers in the State. Government also procured and distributed assorted seeds (246 metric tonnes of Rice, 20 metric tonnes of Sesame, 57 metric tonnes of Soya Bean, 50 metric tonnes of Maize seed and 2000 kits of maize). Others include the completion of 3 number Cassava Processing Plants, procurement of agro-chemicals and pest control chemicals/equipment; payment of counterpart funds for Livestock Production and Resilient Support Project (L-PRES), IFAD-VCDP; continuous campaign against obnoxious fishing, purchase of fishing gears and accessories and the promotion of aquaculture and fingerling production. The sector also embarked upon the renovation and expansion of the Green House; procured veterinary drugs, vaccines and equipment and promoted rice production and youth empowerment. In addition the sector witnessed an increased engagement of farmers/herders in conflict resolution meetings and the completion and furnishing of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ ultra-modern office complex for serene working environment. Government also constructed and renovated staff quarters in the College of Agriculture, constructed some road network and provided water supply including its reticulation within the College. In all, the sum of One Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Million, Twenty-Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifteen Naira, Ninety Kobo only (₦1,460,024,215.90) was expended in the sector.
WORKS AND TRANSPORT
In the Works and Transport sector, Government continued with the on-going projects to see to their finishing and even flagging off of two (2) other road projects that are also dear to my heart. Within the period under review, the work on the Dual Carriage Way from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp along Wukari Road to Jalingo City Gate at Pantinapu along Yola Road is already 95% completed. The Wukari – Tsokundi Road is almost completed and I will commission it in December 2022 while the Dual Carriage Way will be delivered early February 2023. Work has also progressed in the following road interventions: Yerima – Gassol – Dominion Road; Mararraba – Baissa – Abong Road; Pamanga – Dakka Road; Lacheke – Pantisawa Road. In the Aviation sub-sector, government embarked upon the expansion of the Danbaba Suntai Airport and the procurement of some navigation equipment. In all, the sum of Thirteen Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-Three Naira, Seventy-Six Kobo only (₦13,436,424,623.76) were spent in the Works sector.
HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
In our resolve of giving Taraba citizens quality health care services, government provided the following interventions: Diseases Surveillance and response; State Strategic Health Development Plan; Rehabilitation of hospitals especially those in Ibi and Donga; Installation of magnetic resonate images (MRI) machines in Takum, Wukari, Bambur and Gembu hospitals were undertaken. Government also scaled up Malaria interventions and provided counterpart funding for Long-Lasting Insecticides Net (LLIN) mass campaign and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) interventions. My administration also carried out the preliminary design of the permanent site of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency; provided health care essential drugs and consumables; undertook research and monitoring & evaluation activities. The sum of Nine Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira, Zero Kobo only (₦968,600,000.00) was spent in the health sector including infrastructural development in the College of Health Technology Takum.
EDUCATION
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in the period under review, government has remained proactive in her interventions in the Education sector. The interventions cut across all the sub-sectors namely basic, secondary and tertiary education. Government was able to deploy the matching grants received from the Universal Basic Education Commission to projects in the 2022 interventions. A total number of 135 blocks of classrooms in Primary schools were rehabilitated with 56 new ones constructed. Also 41 blocks of classrooms in Secondary schools were rehabilitated with 16 new ones constructed. Government also procured science and sport equipment for our Secondary schools and ensured that our students on exchange programme were provided for. In the Tertiary sub-sector, the support from TETFUND has enabled our high institutions to upgrade their infrastructure within the period under review. In all, the sum of One Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only, Zero Kobo (₦1,668,800,000.00) only were expended in the Education sector.
WATER RESOURCES.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in our desire to bequeath a sustainable water supply system to the citizenry, government aside the interventions in the rural water supply, fast tracked the delivery of the Jalingo Primary Water Supply Scheme. This will be a done deal before the end of my administration. Also, the year witnessed Taraba State participating in the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar in March and attended the High-Level Symposium on Water in Lisbon, Portugal in July 7th 2022. Our participation in these meetings was hinged largely on the accolades I have received as Water Man in this decade. The sum of Two Billion and Ten Million Naira Zero Kobo only (₦2,010,000,000.00) were spent in the Water sector.
GOVERNANCE
During the period under review, government desirous of securing a serene environment for development, employed strategies to tackle head-on the challenges of banditry and kidnapping by strengthening the security architecture in the State in order to stem the tide of the ugly drift. Other project activities carried out include the renovation and furnishing of Liaison offices, provision of subventions and grants to Yangtu and Ngada Special Development Areas and government companies, refurbishing of fire fighting vehicles and the procurement of foams chemicals for firefighting interventions. Also, government was able to procure some assorted vehicles for her logistics. In all the sum of One Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira Zero Kobo only (₦1,367,260,000.00) were expended in governance.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED PROGRAMMES/PROJECTS
In the year under review, government continued to receive assistance/grants from donor partners and federal agencies like the North East Development Commission (NEDC). We have also provided counterpart funding for some of the Donor assisted programmes and the Rural Access & Agricultural Marketing Project. Accordingly, the World Bank Support for the Nigeria Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) is disbursement effective after their fourth mission (i.e. training of the State Team in Kano recently). The World Bank support to strengthen the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme for result has climaxed at the end of 2022 and subsequently a State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) will take off in 2023. The State has leveraged on these supports and will continue to do that for the welfare of our citizens.
POVERTY REDUCTION EFFORTS
Also, in the year under review, government has been able to reverse the not-too-good performance that was recorded in the year 2020 in respect of the Poverty Index Perception for Taraba State released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The recent release of the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022 (MPI) by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that interventions by this administration have lifted our citizens out of the RED LINE of poverty. This feat is commendable and I will appreciate all and sundries who have made this possible. It is my desire that government will put more measures and strategies in place to sustain these
achievements and beyond.
2023 BUDGET ESTIMATES
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the significance of the 2023 Budget Estimates is to further consolidate on the gains of the preceding years. The Budget will complete critical on-going projects and provide the superstructure for the new administration to build on. The Budget will continue to anchor on the thrust of government’s fiscal policy in sustaining reforms, enhance fiscal resilience and ensure fiscal and debt sustainability. This will be achieved through the following:
Improving revenue mobilization,
Creating fiscal space for infrastructural development,
Ensuring sustainable deficit and debt levels,
Strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation.
The preparation of the 2023 Budget was guided by the following macroeconomic variables as determined by the Federal Government:
International oil price benchmark of $70.00 per barrel,
Oil production quota of 1.69 million barrels per day,
United States Dollar exchange rate to N435.57,
Inflation rate of 17.16% and
A GDP growth rate of 3.75%.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for the State services in the 2023 fiscal period, the Government has budgeted the sum of One Hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty Kobo (N172,734,537,459.40) which represents an increase of Twenty-Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Six Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Sixty-Two Naira, Fifty-Eight Kobo (N22,949,641,062.58) or 15.32% increase than the 2022 Approved Budget.
TOTAL REVENUE BREAKDOWN
The projected revenue of One Hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty Kobo (N172,734,537,459.40) comprises an Opening Balance of Six Hundred Million Naira, Zero Kobo (N600,000,000.00) representing 0.35%, Independent Revenue estimate of Nineteen Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand, Three Hundred Forty-Two Naira, Forty Kobo (N19,388,694,342.40) representing 11.22%, Government Share of FAAC (Statutory Revenue including Value Added Tax) of Seventy-Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Four Naira, Zero Kobo (N72,871,257,304.00) representing 42.19%, Aids and Grants of Fifty-Two Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Two Naira, Zero Kobo (N52,372,904,402.00) representing 30.32%, Capital Development Fund (CDF) Receipts of Twenty-Seven Billion, Five Hundred and One Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Eleven Naira, Zero Kobo (N27,501,681,411.00) representing 15.92%.
EXPENDITURE
Total Recurrent Expenditure is estimated at Seventy-Four Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Nine Thousand, Eighty-Eight Naira, Fifteen Kobo (N74,556,829,088.15) representing 43.16%. This is made up of total Personnel Cost of Thirty-Seven Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira, Zero Kobo (N37,620,379,556.00) or 21.78% and Other Recurrent Costs of Thirty-Six Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Forty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira, Fifteen Kobo (N36,936,449,532.15) or 21.38%.
The 2023 Budget has a capital expenditure estimate of Ninety Eight Billion, One Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-One Naira, Twenty Five Kobo (N98,177,708,371.25) representing 56.84% with the following sector allocations in accordance with the classifications of National Chart of Accounts:
Economic: Fifty-Nine Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Naira, Seventy-Five Kobo (N59,790,357,650.75) representing 34.61%.
Social Services: Twenty-Seven Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven Naira, Ninety Kobo (N27,259,529,327.90) representing 15.78%.
Law and Justice: Three Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Two Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira, Zero Kobo (N3,466,261,832.00) representing 2.01%.
Administrative: Seven Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Naira, Sixty Kobo (N7,661,559,560.60) representing 4.44%.
THE 2023 BUDGET DELIVERABLES
The implementation of the 2023 Budget will be executed in a manner that the thrust of government’s fiscal policy is address and the enablers that will promote service delivery are sustained.
INDEPENDENT REVENUE COLLECTION EFFORT
Based on the fiscal assumptions and parameters earlier mentioned above, total independent collectible revenue is estimated at 19.38 billion Naira in 2023. For the State to shove up her collection effort over and above this estimate, the 2023 Appropriation Bill is aimed at ensuring that the focus of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) collecting revenue is taken to greater effort through the sustenance of diversification strategies that would increase the non-oil revenue share of the total revenues accruing to the State. In this vein, government will ensure that all revenue collecting MDAs are given incentives that will make them quadruple their collection efforts. Taraba State Internal Revenue Service should ensure that this is done through an enhanced monitoring and safeguards to check leakages.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
In our quest to rescue the State from where we met it, a lot of programmes, projects and activities were put in place to actualize our aspirations, prominent among them are the Dual Carriage way from the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp along Wukari Road to Jalingo City Gate at Pantinapu along Yola Road (18 Km), Magami Road network (6.5 Km), Jalingo – Kona – Lau Road, Takum – Katsina Ala Road (6.5Km), Wukari – Tsokundi Road, major Hospital interventions in Wukari, Gembu, Bambur and Takum and School interventions (both Primary, Secondary and Tertiary), Jalingo Primary Water Supply Scheme and over 640 boreholes and other micro-projects by CSDP just to mention but a few. While some have been completed and already put to use, some are about to be delivered. Government is resolute in delivering these projects before the end of my administration.
HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
In one of her National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, Governors noted that our human capital development indices have been very low particularly those of us in the sub-Sahara region. In this respect, we resolved to tackle this challenge head-on to reverse the indices positively by ensuring that our citizens are healthy, educated, and productive by 2030. These we will do in earnest from 2023 by giving attention to health and nutrition, education and labour force thus targeting under-five mortality rate, malnutrition (under five stunting), adult mortality, expected years of school completion for primary & secondary schools, quality of learning and labour force participation rate of female and youth. In this vein, the State Human Capital Council has been approved with my Deputy as Chair and the Council is expected to hit the ground running after its inauguration. Government has noted the need to provide an enabling environment for the our tertiary institutions to strive, particularly the working environment in Taraba State University. In this regard, the University is expected to produce a document on staff pensions and other related matters for government to study for possible implementation.
SECURITY
My administration will remain firm in her commitment to secure lives and properties across the State. Accordingly, internal security will continue to be accorded top priority in 2023. We will sustain our current efforts to support and motivate the security apparatus in the State for optimum performance. Insecurity, especially banditry and kidnapping, will be significantly curtailed. We will intensify our efforts in this regard to ensure that an equitable, peaceful and secured environment is bequeathed to our citizens.
INTER-AGENCY/STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT
I appreciate the efforts and commitments of the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and his staff who have worked tirelessly to achieve early submission of the 2023 Appropriation Bill. The 2023 Budget proposal is a product of inter-agency collaboration, extensive stakeholder consultation and productive engagements. I was personally engaged in a Town Hall Meeting to elicit more inputs into the 2023 Budget and it was quite revealing and impactful. It was an opportunity for me to inform the citizenry on what government is doing and also answer their questions satisfactorily. I would therefore like to acknowledge the efforts of the media, organized private sector, civil society organizations and our development partners for their contributions in the process of preparing the Budget.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, at this juncture, may I once again express my profound gratitude for your continuous support and cooperation in our efforts to deliver democratic dividends to our people. It is therefore, with great pleasure, that I lay before this Honourable House the 2023 Taraba State Appropriation Bill that I called the BUDGET OF FULFILLED RESCUE MISSION AND TRANSITION to the tune of One Hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty Kobo (N172,734,537,459.40).
I thank you most sincerely for your rapt attention and wish you fruitful deliberatio
ns.