…charges state assembly on oversight function
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for working on the economy and ensuring that the 36 states continue to record unprecedented improvements in monthly subvention.
Governor Sule made the commendation during the signing of the 2024 budget tagged “Budget of Renewed Commitment” at the Government House on Friday.
The Governor particularly appreciated the President for funding the states in such a way that Nasarawa State is beginning the new year with a huge opening balance ever seen in the history of the state.
He said the unprecedented manner President Tinubu is funding the states is making it possible for the states to address infrastructural deficits.
Governor Sule used the opportunity of the event to also commiserate with the President over the demise of the governor of Ondo State, the late Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, former speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba, as well as the unfortunate killing of about 195 in Plateau State.
He announced plans to pay a condolence visit on the government and people of Plateau State next Tuesday, alongside his Benue State counterpart, as well as selected critical stakeholders and traditional rulers from the state.
This is just as the Governor tasked members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to carry out their oversight functions, in line with their constitutional responsibility as lawmakers.
“I want to also call on the members of the House of Assembly to carry out the second aspect of your work, that is the oversight function. It helps me a lot if you go out to carry out your responsibilities. You are not querying me. In fact, I am happy when you are doing that because you are doing things I couldn’t do and helping us with the internal control mechanism.
“I hope you will carry it out diligently for the interest of the state and the interest of the people,” he said.
Governor Sule appreciated the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon Danladi Jatau, as well as principal officers of the assembly, for their leadership which saw to the speedy passage of the budget.
He equally commended the sustained partnership with the other arms of government which he said would continue to define the collective commitment towards accelerating the pace of development of the state.
“I have no doubt that we will continue to work together more closely towards the realization of our common goals and the execution of people oriented programmes and policies.
“I want to assure you that we will continue to ensure full implementation of the budget within our threshold to consolidate on our developmental strides. This is believing that our primary responsibility as government is to ensure the protection of lives and property as well as the provision of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
“We shall continue to leverage on our policy document as it relates to education, health, agriculture, security, economic empowerment and general infrastructure, as prioritized and captured in the budget,” he stated.
Governor Sule therafter signed the 2024 budget estimated at N199,879,370,709.43, predicated on macroeconomic assumptions on the economic outlook of Nigeria as follows: Daily oil production of 1.78mpd, oil bench mark of 77.96 US dollars per barrel, at the exchange rate of 750 Naira/USD, the projected GDP of 3.76 percent and the inflation rate of 21.4 percent.
In his response, Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Danladi Jatau, assured of the continues synergy with other arms of government in order to bring development to the state.
In her opening remarks, state Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Hon. Munirat Abdullahi, said the budget is committed towards fulfilling the energized and pragmatic development strides of the Governor.
