By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has signed into law the 2023 Appropriation Bill of the State Government for the next fiscal year.
“This is the last Budget that shall be signed by my administration.
“I want to thank the Rt. Honourable Speaker as well as other leaders of the State House of Assembly, along with all Honourable members for passing the 2023 Appropriation Bill into law on record time once again.
“With determination, we have worked together to improve the Budgeting process and restored the January to December fiscal cycle.
He pointed out that to achieve the laudable objectives of the 2023 Budget, he will ensure the monitoring of projects and programme implementation by MDAs and work very hard for the next five months to generate revenues to finance the plans.
According to him, the Public Complaint and Accountability Commission would be strengthened to improve and consolidate transparency and accountability, while the incoming administration will continue from where he will stop.
“The 2023 Budget I have just signed into law provides for a total expenditure of One Hundred and Seventy-Three Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand Naira, Forty Kobo (₦173,234,537,459.40) which is 13.5 percent higher than the 2022 Appropriation. It comprises of Seventy-Four Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Nine Thousand and Eighty-Eight Naira, Fifteen Kobo (₦74,556,829,088.15) as recurrent expenditure, representing 43 percent and Ninety-Eight Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-One Naira, Twenty-Five Kobo (₦98,677,708,371.25) as capital expenditure, representing 57 percent.
“Further details of the 2023 approved budget will be provided by the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
He thank the Deputy Governor and all other members of the State Executive Council, the Honourable Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning and his team, and all that have worked vigorously to ensure he deliver on his mandate.
Earlier, the Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Professor Joseph Albasu Kunini while presenting the bill to the governor for assent, noted that despite the dwindling resources of the state, Governor Ishaku has continually demonstrated fatherly posture to the legislature arm of government in the state.
The Speaker also appreciated the governor for his support, cooperation, and encouragement to the state house of assembly, and appealed to him to listen to the cry of the staff of the house to settle their seven (7) years of outstanding outfit allowances.
Albasu, however, thanked his colleagues in the house of assembly for their support and trust in his leadership as the Speaker of the house, while he on behalf of the entire members wish the Governor success in his future endeavors as he moves to contest for the Senate in the Taraba South Senatorial Zone.
Recalled that On Tuesday, the 29th of November 2022, Governor Darius Ishaku presented the 2023 appropriation bill of over N172 billion to the Taraba State House of Assembly.