By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, yesterday presented the 2025 budget estimate, of N549.50 billion, to the Benue State House of Assembly for consideration.
He said the budget whose estimate is based on the assumption of 75 dollar per barrel of crude oil, and N1,100 per exchange rate is aimed at driving sustainable development and improving the lives of all citizens.
The budget, christened “Budget of Human Capital Development, Food Security and Digital Economy” Alia maintained is designed to address the state’s socio-economic challenges, promote economic growth, and enhance the overall well-being of Benue residents.
According to the budget breakdown, the recurrent expenditure stands at N175 billion, while the capital expenditure is N374 billion,adding that debt servicing, will total N13.4 billion while human capital development has the highest amount allocation of over 30 percent of the total budget estimate.
Governor Alia further revealed that his administration has prioritized key sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture, to drive development and growth, allocating N24.8 billion to Education, N13.2 billion to healthcare,N20.5 billion to infrastructure and N10.3 billion to Agriculture respectively.
He explained that education sector received a substantial allocation, with a focus on renovating and constructing new schools, providing educational materials, and training teachers with the healthcare sector also receiving a significant boost, with allocations for the renovation and equipping of hospitals, recruitment of medical personnel, and provision of essential drugs.
The governor during the budget presentation also announced that the 2025 appropriation bill will include provision for youth empowerment,job creation and social welfare programmes, stressing that it will serve as a demonstration to his administration’s commitment to the welfare of Benue people.
Governor Alia during the occasion equally, assured Benue people that his administration would always remain committed to transparency, accountability and prudent management of resources,to ensure that the budget is implemented efficiently and very effectively.
He promised to improve on the security architecture of the state, adding that government would use over 80 percent of the budget, strengthen water hygiene sanitation and construct drainages.
Responding, Speaker of the Benue Assembly, Aondona Dajo, while urging MDA’s to cooperate with the house standing committees during screening to have a workable and people oriented budget,assured the governor that the house will go through the document with the view to give it an accelerated passage.
He commended Governor Alia for initiating numerous projects including road infrastructure, investment in information technology with the aim to digitize the state institutions as well as his industrial revolution approach through the Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC.
The speaker also lauded Governor Alia’s effective management of resources and for prioritizing security of lives of the people, expressing optimism that the governor will use the next year’s budget to consolidate on the achievements so far recorded as well as initiative more new projects that would have direct bearing on the people.
He also appealed to governor Alia to expedite action on the completion of the Assembly complex,a project he started, lamenting the Assembly has no befitting chamber’s.
Some Benue people who spoke with our correspondent including Joseph Asua, commended Governor Alia for forwarding the 2025 budget estimate on time,describing the move as a bold step towards achieving sustainable development and economic growth of the State.
Asua particularly, expressed optimism that the budget would create a positive impact on the lives of Benue people when implemented and called for support of all and sundry to enable government provide good governance to the people.