Governor Lalong proposes N172.5 billion budget for 2020.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has presented a budget of N172.5 billion for 2020 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly and also approved the constitution of Government Committee to negotiate with organised labour with a view of coming out with modalities for implementation of the new minimum wage.

Presenting the budget, the governor said the 2020 budget of N172.5 brings to an increase of Nineteen Billion, Fifty-Nine Million, one hundred and Twenty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Eight Naira (₦19,059,127,508.00) representing 12.41% on the 2019 Budget estimate.

According to the governor, the year 2020 Recurrent Expenditure amounts to Ninety Eight Billion one Hundred and Forty Six Million Six Hundred and Nine Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Naira only, representing 56.86% of the Budget while the proposed capital expenditure in the budget is Seventy Four Billion, Four Hundred and Forty Million, Six Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Seven Naira only representing 43.14% of the total budget.

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On sectoral allocation, the administrative sector was allocated Eleven Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Naira while economic sector got forty-Four Billion, Ninety-Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only representing 59.23% of Capital Estimate.

The governor stated that the sum of two billion One Hundred and Thirty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira was allocated for Agricultural Programmes, Commerce and Industries sub-Sector One Billion Five Hundred and Fifty-One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira, education Ten Billion, Seven Hundred and Forty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-Seven Naira.

Health sector got the sum of Four Billion, Five Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,566,500,000.00) only, judiciary, Nine Hundred Million, six Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira Only.

The governor said as a step towards ensuring quick dispensation of justice, in addition to completion and renovations of our Courts, Government will ensure fast-tracking of drafting of necessary legislation to address current trends in criminality such as Cultism, Land grabbing and Kidnapping in the state.

He said the government approach to sustainable governance policy implementation and staff welfare will continue to be given priority consideration adding the state government see the yearning and demand for an increase of minimum wage as a genuine source of motivation, improved productivity and general improvement in the living conditions of civil servants and their families.