PLATEAU State governor, Simon Bako Lalong has presented a budget proposal of N139,357,144,980.38 for the 2023 fiscal year to the House of Assembly .
Laying the appropriation bill before the Plateau State House of Assembly, the governor said the budget consists of N77,650,642,030.85 as recurrent expenditure representing 55.72% of the total budget, and N61,706,502,949.53, as capital component which represents 44.27% of the total budget.
He said the budget shows an increase of N32,649,877,338.26) from the 2022 approved budget.
The governor said the 2023 budget tagged: “Budget of Infrastructural Consolidation and Transition,” will focus on completing major projects of the Rescue Administration and ensuring that government machinery continues to operate in a most efficient and productive manner.
He said: “Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, you will recall that having completed many inherited and abandoned projects from previous administrations, this government initiated many projects, many of which have been completed.
Among them are the Legacy Projects comprising world standard schools and hospitals spread across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Although the Legacy Project suffered a setback as result of the failure of the previous contractor to deliver the project within agreed timelines, I am happy to say that the project having been terminated has been re-awarded to a new contractor and advance payment made.
The Contractor is to complete the project for commissioning before the end of this administration”.
He listed other projects nearing commissioning to include the Plateau High Court of Justice Complex, the British American Junction Flyover and dualisation to Lamingo Road Junction.
Others are the General Hospital Mabudi, Langtang South Local Government and General Hospital Kwall, Kanke Local Government.