Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has presented N20.2billion, 2020 supplementary budget to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House made this known when Hon Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House presented the supplementary Appropriation bill on behalf of the governor during the House proceedings in Lafia on Wednesday.
The speaker has assured of the assembly’s readiness to do justice to the budget for development to thrive.
“A Bill for a Law to Issue Out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State (Supplementary Appropriation Bill) the sum of N20, 203, 376, 300 only for the Services of Nasarawa State Government for the period of two months, commencing 1st November 2020 and ending 31st December 2020, scaled second reading.
” I will commit the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to work on the bill and report back to the House on 23rd November 2020,” the speaker said.
Earlier, Hon Tanko Tunga while moving a motion for the bill to scale first and second reading said that the supplementary budget was necessary due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
“We are all aware how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the economy negatively, it has affected every aspect of life negatively, hence the need for the supplementary budget,” he said.
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He called on his colleagues to give the supplementary budget an accelerated passage.
Hon Luka Iliya Zhekaba, the Deputy Minority Leader seconded the motion for the supplementary Appropriation bill to pass first and second reading respectively.
Also contributing, Hon Mohammed Okpoku, Hon Mohammed Omadefu called for the speedy passage of the bill considering its significance to the state.
The House unanimously passed the supplementary appropriation bill into first and second reading during the day proceedings.
It would be recalled that on July 20, 2020, Gov. Abdullahi Sule has presented a revised 2020 budget of N62.96billion to the state house of assembly for consideration and approval.
Governor Sule, who tagged it as “Budget of Inclusive Development”, said that it was anchored on his administration’s policy of transparency, accountability and prudence which was necessitated by the effects of COVID-19 on the economy.
It would also be recalled that on December 4, 2019, Gov. Abdullahi Sule has presented the 2020 budget proposal of N100.52 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Meantime, a bill for a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA) and for Other Connected matters scaled second reading.
Hon Daniel Ogazi, the Deputy Majority Leader while giving the substance of the bill said that the bill is seeking to ensure environmental cleanliness across the state.
Hon Luka Iliya Zhekaba, the Deputy Minority Leader seconded the motion for the bill to scale second reading.
The speaker, then committed the bill to the House Committee on Environment to work on the bill and report back to the House on 28th November 2020.
Also, a bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of Nasarawa State Youth Development Commission, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other Matters Connected Therewith scaled first reading.
The sponsor of the bill, Rt. Hon Nehemiah Tsentse Dandaura, the Deputy Speaker of the House moved a motion for the bill to scale first reading.
Hon Musa Iyimoga, the Chairman, House Committee on Youth and Sports seconded the motion for the bill to scale first reading.
Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the speaker of the House slated 15th December 2020 for the second reading of the bill.
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