By Emmnuel Awari-Jalingo
The Speaker of the Taraba state House of Assembly Rt Hon.Joseph Albasu Kunini has described Budget defence as Constitutional obligations of the legislative arm of Government.
The Speaker, Joseph Albasu Kunini whi disclosed this while declaring open the Budget Defence, urged Ministries, Departments, Boards and Agencies (MDA’S) to freely interact with respective sub- committees of the State House of Assembly in the course of defending the Budget.
He recalled that in keeping with the constitutional obligations, Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku presented the 2020 Budget to the State House of Assembly for consideration, observing that the Appropriation Bill became necessary for legislative process which culminated into the exercise of the defence.
” I call on Tarabans to give the Governor the needed cooperation for development to thrive in the state.
He urged Tarabans to contribute immensely to the development of the state and the nation at large, wishing those involved in the budget defence a hitch – free exercise.
The Ministry of Youths and Sports presented Over Five Hundred and Forty Five Million Naira for the 2020 fiscal year.
Chairman House Committee on Social Welfare, Youths and Sports, Nasiru Tafida described the exercise as crucial to both arms of government and also helping the people to reap the dividend of democracy.
The Commissioner, Ibrahim Imam, appreciated Members of the state house of assembly for their support and be called on government to come to the aid of the ministry, which he said is saddled with the responsibility of preparing leaders of tomorrow in the aspect of sports.
Members of the committee appreciate the Ministries of Social Welfare, Youths and Sports, urging them to submit their requirements in writing to the Secretariat for prompt action.
On it’s presentation, the Ministry of Social Welfare presented a Budget of Five Hundred Million Naira for 2020 fiscal year.
The Commissioner, Bridget Twar said the Ministry is vested with the responsibility of meeting the needs of the vulnerable members of the society, adding that the Ministry seeks to provide succour to the less previleged.
The Chairman House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, John Kizito Bonzena has called on the Ministries of Education, Science and Technology to make contributions that will move the state forward.
He made the call during the 2020 budget defence, saying that their positive contributions would help in the passage of the appropriation bill into law.
Defending it’s budget, Post Primary School Management Board said it has proposed Over Five million Naira for personnel cost, Fourty Five million Naira for Over Head cost, while over Two hundred and four million Naira as targeted revenue for the fiscal year.
The Executive Secretary, David Mailafiya disclosed that the none release of funds has hampered the smooth running of the board, calling on government to come to it’s aid.
Also, Taraba State Ministries of Basic and Secondary, and Tertiary Education jointly proposed over One Billion Naira as over head cost and over One Billion Naira as recurrent expenditure for the fiscal year.
Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Jahnannes Njigem and that of Tertiary Education, Gideon Baraya submitted the joint proposed budget before the House Committee on Education.
Other Boards and Agencies that presented theirs are College of Education, Scholarship board and Agency for Mass Education.
Similarly, the Ministry of Urban Town Planning Development has proposed the budget of over One Billion Naira for the fiscal year.
The Commissioner, Sale Sa’ ad said the ministry lack adequate office accommodation and staff which is affecting the smooth operation of the ministry.
He said non- payment of casual laborers monthly allowances since January 2017 and lack of utility vehicles are some of the challenges hampering smooth running of the Ministry.
The Ministry of Environment and Sanitation proposed over One Billion Naira for the fiscal year.
The Commissioner, Lawan Ibrahim said the ministry has five departments which all lack man power.
He said the ministry which is saddled with the responsibility of protection, conservation and development of the state budgeted the said amount.
Also the Ministry of Works has proposed the budget of over Two hundred million Naira for the fiscal year.
The Commissioner Ibrahim Irimiya Hammanjulde said the ministry has so many on- going road projects which include rehabilitation and construction of Bali – Gembu, Takum – Chanchanji, Pantisawa, Wukari – Tsokundi, Baissa – Abong roads amongst others.
He lamented lack of man power as the major challenge facing the ministry and thanked Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and members of the state house of assembly for the support given to the ministry.
Similarly, the state poverty alleviation has budgeted the sum of over Four hundred and twenty six million Naira for the fiscal year.
Presenting the budget, the Commissioner, Naptiali Kefas represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lawal Yakubu said the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of empowerment has challenges such as Manpower, Running Cost, Office Accommodation amongst others which has hampered the smooth running of the ministry.
He said the ministry has achieved a lot in the year under review by generating above the targeted revenue.
He called on the government to give the ministry more priority for development to thrive in the state especially in the rural areas.
The Ministry of Water Resources on its part said it budgeted over Six Billion Naira for the fiscal year.
The Commissioner, Yusufu Nya Akiriwen said that the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of providing portable water and improve Sanition services in both rural and urban communities in the state and thanked the Governor for the priority giving to the ministry.
He pointed out challenges facing the ministry to include, lack of funds to procure of new drilling rigs, manpower and office accommodation.
Also the State Water Supply Agency has budgeted the sum of over Six hundred million Naira for the fiscal year. The General Manager, Musa Buba Siyam disclosed this during the Agency’s budget defence.
Chairman House Committee on Water Resources and Rural Development, Abdulkarim Mohammed applauded the Agency for generating above its targeted revenue in 2019.
Similarly, the General Manager, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency RUWASA, Ishaka Bashir during it’s presentation said the agency is a service provider and not a revenue generating sector but provide water to both rural and urban dwellers.
Also speaking, a member of the committee, Habila Timothy Anderifun called on the RUWASA to carry all the local government of the state along especially the rural areas.
Taraba State Local Government Service Commission has appeared before the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to defend it’s budget for the fiscal year.
The Chairman of the Commission, Jonah Kataps said the proposed cost of the Commission has dropped in 2020 budget as pegged by the State Planning Commission and urged the committee to jack it up. In his remarks, the committee chairman, Mark Bako Useini commended the Local Government Service Commission for generating above it’s targeted revenue in the year 2019.
On its part, the Ministry of Rural Development and Natural Resources has estimated over Three Billion Naira for the fiscal year. The Commissioner, Alexander Senlo said the ministry is purely service oriented, saddled with the responsibility of providing electricity to communities in the state.
He added that the ministry is also responsible for construction and rehabilitation of rural roads in all seasons and call on the state government to employ more staff for there is a serious gap in the ministry.
On his part, a member of the committee, Abbas Umar Kaura thanked the ministry for appearing before the committee to defend it’s budget, urging them to submit all written memoranda to the sectariat for prompt action.
Nasarawa Reporters 