Nasarawa Assembly amends 2025 budget, reduces it to N384.3bn
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has reversed the earlier passed 2025 Appropriation Bill of N402.5 billion to N384.3billion.
The Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, announced the passage of the reversed budget during an emergency sitting in Lafia today, Friday.
“A Bill to Authorize the Issuance from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State the Total Sum of N384, 317, 843,592.03 only as total budget size for the year 2025, is read for third term and passed.
It would be reported that the 2025 budget, was christened “Budget of Economic Growth and Stability”
The Speaker said that the downward review of the N402.5bn to N384.3billion was due to reasons given by the Executive that the earlier budget passed is going to be above the inflow of revenue of the State in 2025.
“It is on this premises that this House come in terms with the following reasons submitted by the Executive to amend the adjusted areas in the 2025 Appropriation Bill as highlighted below-
” The need for the State to achieved at least 85 % budget performance to qualify for the transparency grant and to strengthen the systems in order to make the budget implementable.
“The ougoing tax reform by the Federal Government which will likely affect the inflow of most Northern States including Nasarawa State.
According to him, some of the reasons given by the government also include its effect on some international intervention programs among others.
“We hereby passed into law A Bill to Authorize the Issuance from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State the Total of N384, 317, 843, 592.03 as total budget size.
“The budget covers N160,667,777,898.56 billion as Recurrent expenditure and N223, 650,065,693.47 as Capital expenditure.
Speaker Jatau directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for Gov. Sule’s assent.
The Speaker applauded the members for having the interest of the State at their hearts by suspending their holidays to attend to the State matters and urged them to sustain the spirit.
Also contributing, Hon. Hajarat Danyaro Ibrahim, Hon. Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki and Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi supported on the need for the bill to scale third reading considering the fact that the socio-economic status of the State hang on the budget.
Earlier, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the bill to scale third reading.
Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba, the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the budget into law.
While speaking to Newsmen shortly after the emergence sitting, Hon. Jonah Ali Dizaho, the Chairman House Committee on Information said that the House has earlier jerked up the budget to avoid supplementary budget in 2025.
“We jerked up the 2025 budget earlier in order to avoid supplementary budget at the end of the year”
“Since the Executive has given reasons for why they want the amendment or review, we have seen reasons with them on the matter, hence the need for the amendment in the earlier budget passed.
“Both the Executive and the Legislature are working together for the interest and development of the State” he said.
The Information Committee Chairman re-assured of the House continued commitment to maintain good working relationship with the executive arm for the overall development of the State.
It would be reported that last Friday December 20th, 2024, the House has passed into law the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N402.5 billion.
The budget covers N166.4 billion for recurrent expenditure and N236.2 billion for capital expenditure.
It would be further recalled that Gov. Abdullahi Sule had on Friday Nov. 29, 2024 presented a budget of N382.5 billion to the assembly for consideration.
