The Nasarawa State Government plans to spend the sum of Fifty-eight Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty-three Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixteen Naira (N58,383,258,516.00) for the fiscal year 2009.

This was disclosed today by the Governor of the State, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, while presenting the appropriation bill to the House of Assembly in Lafia. The Governor expatiated that the sum of Thirty-four Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty Million, One Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand, Two Hundred and Five Naira (N34,730,164,205.00) representing 59% of the budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while the sum of Twenty-Three Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty-three Million, Ninety-four Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven Naira (N23,653,094,311.00) representing 41% is earmarked for recurrent expenditure.

Tagged the Budget of Consolidation, the Governor said the policy thrust of the budget were:

1)  Development of sectors of comparative advantage, such as, – Solid Minerals, Agriculture and Tourism – which have the capacity to generate mass employment, boost production and attract private investments;

2)  To maximise the advantages associated with our proximity to the Federal Capital Territory through the establishment of industrial, commercial and housing estates;

3)  To strengthen our commitment to urban renewal programmes towards the improvement of living conditions in our urban centres;

4)  To provide enabling environment for socio-economic activities and the development of a viable private sector;

5)  To sanitise and control land administration in the State;

6)  To revamp and upgrade our health and education sectors to comparable status;

7) To pursue our rural development agenda with emphasis on rural water supply.

The major areas of expenditure according to the Governor were  Works and Transport N11billion;  Education N6.6billion; Legislature N4billion; Urban Development N3.4billion; Health N3.2billion; Water Supply N2.2billion; Agriculture N2.1billion; Counterpart Contributions N1.8billion; Tourism and Culture 1.4billion; Lands, Survey and Town Planning N1.4billion and Judiciary N1.3billion

Accepting the budget on behalf of the House, the Hon. Speaker commended the Governor for the successes recorded in the performance of the 2008 budget and assured the Governor that the House will be expeditious and through in the discharge of their constitutional obligations.