Governor Simon Lalong on Thursday signed the 2023 Appropriation bill of ₦149.9 billion into law.

The governor, while signing the bill at Government House Jos, said it was part of his administration’s commitment to the good of the Plateau.

“This is our administration’s last budget, and we promise that we will to do our best for the people. We remain committed to its implementation,” he said.

Mr Lalong thanked the Plateau House of Assembly (PLHA) for their input in the budget and prayed for resources for its implementation. He also thanked the judiciary for supporting his administration’s discharge of duties while urging them to extend such goodwill to the incoming administration.

Dan-Philips Hirkop, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said that the appropriation bill presented to PLHA in November was ₦139 billion but was increased to handle some critical issues.

“The budget proposal was ₦139 billion, but the house, after its deliberations, was able to come out with some critical issues with logistics for an effective transition,” said Mr Hirkop. “Other issues also include the current exercise of replacement and recruitment in tertiary institutions, the health sector and others to make provisions, bringing it to ₦149 billion instead of ₦139 billion.”

The bill was christened, ‘Budget of Infrastructural Consolidation and Transition’, with N84.1 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N65.7 billion would be for capital spending. 

(NAN)