Ortom presents N178.4bn ‘Budget of Rural Transformation’

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has presented a budget draft of N178.4 billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

Making the presentation yesterday, Ortom said the economic sector took the highest share of N87.5 billion followed by the social sector with N62.1 billion, while the law and justice sector had the smallest share of N3.3 billion.

He worried that the 2017 budget was slightly higher than the 2018 estimated draft by N5 billion.

The recurrent expenditure stood at N77billion and capital expenditure pegged at N100.6billon as well as personnel expenditure projected for N51 billion.

The governor said the focus of the budget would be rural transformation and consolidation to continue the implementation of the administration’s fivepoint agenda following “Our Collective Vision for a New Benue.”

Ortom added that though the country had gradually emerged from the hardship caused by economic recession, “we (Benue) have continued to face economic challenges which had never been witnessed since 1999.”

He expressed optimism that the 2018 budget estimate would seek opportunity at the door of a new economic boom.

On his part, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Terkimibi Ikyange, assured that the House would ensure speedy passage of the budget.