By Daniel Dauda, Jos


The Plateau State ministry of works and Transport has been allocated the sum of
N16.9billion representing 24.85 percent of the capital estimate which also make it the highest more than any other sector of the economy in the State.

This was revealed by the commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Sylvester Wallangko during the 2019 budget breakdown at the state Secretariat conference hall cabinet office Jos.

According to the commissioner, emphasis will be on the completion of on-going project.

Other allocations to other sub-sectors of the economy are education with the sum of
N12.2billion representing 17.94 percent. Administration with an allocation of N12,044,670,764.00 representing17.94 percent.Lands, Housing and Urban Development allocated the sum of N51,226,525,500.00 representing7.68 percent,Health, N4.6billion representing 6.85 percent.

However, water resources got
N5,134,118,000.00 representing 7.50 percent, Agriculture and Rural Development N2,674,850,000.00 representing 3.93 percent and commence and industry with the allocation of the sum of N2,408,725,000.00 representing 3.54 percent.

Others are;Women,Youths and Sports Development with the sum of N1,963,000 information and communication N1,444,394,000.00 representing 2.12 percent, Judiciary N1,032,100,000.00 representing1.52 percent Environmental and Mineral Development N905,464,600.00 representing 1.33 percent, Finance,
N 901,674,500.00 representing 1.32 percent; Legislature N2,201,700.00 representing1.28 percent and tourism and Hospitality N337,900,000.00 representing 0.50 percent of the capital estimate.

The commissioner said this years budget tagged “Budget of Rescue and Infrastructural growth” was aimed at consolidating on the infrastructural development of the state adding that the budget estimate was projected based on the Macro-Economic Variables from the Medium Term Expenditure frame work (MTEF) and the Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) of the State.

Wallangko said that as usual, the implementation of the budget would still be anchored on the 5-Pillar policy thrust of the administration with emphasis on the completion of the on-going projects and programmes.

The total sum for capital expenditure for 2019 budget amounted to 68 billion, representing 44.33 percent, out of the total size budget of 153 billion naira only was earmarked for projects.

 Wallangko stressed that “for us as government to be able to implement these strategic and critical developmental projects and programmes contained in the budget, a lot of finance is required.”

Added that “as such, implore on our citizens to cooperate with revenue authorities in the payment of their taxes and other levies, in the mist of this economic challenges.”

The 2019 budget has a total size of 153 billion naira, making an additional increase of seven billion naira from the 2018 budget, which was 146 billion naira.