Taraba State Assembly boosts 2024 budget by N2 billion for development agenda

Members of the Taraba State House of Assembly have given the nod to an additional N2 billion in the 2024 appropriation bill, increasing the initial proposal presented by Governor Agbu Kefas, which stood at N311,388,525,662.96k.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the originally proposed amount, the assembly members opted to augment the budget during a session on the floor. The announcement of this increase came on Friday, with Abdul-Azeez Titong, Chairman of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, addressing the development.

Titong stressed the necessity of the adjustment to accommodate vital projects aligned with the government’s five-finger development agenda. He stated, “The initial budget size was adjusted to incorporate projects essential for the development agenda, amending it from N311,388,525,661.56k to N313,388,525,661.56k.”

The committee, acknowledging that the 2024 budget estimate surpassed the approved 2023 budget, emphasized international best practices of quarterly releases for approved funds to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Furthermore, they urged the government to address revenue leakages, including multiple receipts and bank accounts used by revenue agencies, ensuring all collected revenues are deposited into the appropriate government accounts for accountability.

In light of the committee’s observations and recommendations, the adjusted budget swiftly passed into law. Speaker Bonzina John Kizito highlighted that this proactive move by the Taraba State Assembly aims to address developmental needs and align the budget with strategic priorities.