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Being Text of the Speech by His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Madauchin Doma), Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, on the Occasion of the Signing into Law of the 2009 Appropriation Bill, Wednesday, 28th January, 2009

PROTOCOL:

I warmly welcome you all to this occasion of the signing into Law of the Nasarawa State 2009 Appropriation Bill which was passed a few days ago by the State House of Assembly.

It would be recalled that on 31st December, 2008, I laid before the Honourable House a budget proposal 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).

It is gratify to note that within three weeks of this submission, the House has returned for my assent a budget of Fifty-eight Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy-eight Million, Two Hundred and Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixteen Naira (N58,478,204,516.00) for the 2009 fiscal year. This amount is made up of a recurrent expenditure of the sum of Twenty-three Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-three Million, Forty Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven Naira (N23,753,040,311.00) representing 40.61% of the total budget. The sum of Thirty-four Billion, Seven Hundred and Twenty-five Million, One Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand, Two Hundred and Five Naira (N34,725,164,205.00) representing 59.39% is earmarked for capital expenditure.

I must state that the budget figure approved by the Honourable House is a reflection of the mutual commitment and collective resolve of the Executive and the House to this Administration’s philosophy of an all-embracing and integrated approach to the development of the State.

Ladies and gentlemen, I must at this juncture commend the Honourable House for an expeditious and indepth consideration of the budget. I need to specially appreciate and thank the Right Honourable Speaker and Members of the House for their unflinching commitment and the sacrifice in calling off the comfort of their recess and end of year engagements to give the 2009 Appropriation Bill an accelerated passage. What is more, the rapidity and understanding with which the bill was passed is a reflection of our collective vision and determination for accelerated socio-economic development of the State.

It is against this background that I would like to reiterate that our 2009 budget is anchored on the following objectives:

1) Development of areas of comparative advantage including solid minerals, agriculture and tourism which have the capacity to generate employment, boost production and attract investment;

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

3) Strengthening our commitment to our urban renewal programme aimed at improving living conditions in our urban centres;

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

5) Sanitization and control of land administration in the State;

6) Revamping and upgrading of our health and education sectors;

7) Pursuit of our rural development agenda with emphasis on rural water supply.

Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, with the passage of the 2009 Appropriation Bill and my assent to the Law today, I wish to reassure the people of Nasarawa State and our development partners that we are now set and determined to implement the projects and programmes contained in the budget. I trust that I can always count on your cooperation, patriotism and understanding as we face this collective and challenging endeavours for the good of all.

My good people of Nasarawa State, I cannot end this address without drawing attention to the current global economic realities which are likely to confront our development efforts. The journey is likely to be tough and rough. The situation calls for sober reflection and a renewed commitment to the imperatives of sacrifice, prudence, due process, transparency and accountability as we go about implementing the budget.

Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot thank you enough for your cooperation, patriotism and understanding. I urge you all to keep it up. Only in this way can we realise the dreams of our founding fathers and leave our footprints on the sands of time.

Thank you and God bless.