Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA), has commenced the 2024 budget defense. The House Committee Chairman on Appropriation and member representing Jos North West Constituency, Hon. Danjuma Azi described it as a huge success.
The exercise which is mandatory for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government is meant to scrutinise each budgetary proposal for the coming year.
It is, however, taking place at the Old Government House in Rayfield and not the assembly complex, due to the ongoing strike by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria ( PASAN).
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Thomas Sule, who was on ground to see things for himself, participated in most of Thursday’s exercise as he asked some very vital questions while also making contributions.
The House Committee on Parastatals and World Bank projects, represented by the Chairman and member representing Qua’an Pan North Constituency, Hon. Paul Datugun, urged MDAs under his purview to up their revenue base.
The MDAs who presented themselves for the exercise on day one were the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Christian Welfare Pilgrims Board and the Deputy Governor’s Office.
Others include PLASIEC, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Solid Minerals, which was described as a critical sector by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Idris Kalamu representing Dengi Constituency.
While some of the heads of MDAs present expressed delight with the outcome of the exercise, others were not too happy as they mostly complained about the non releases of approved budgetary allocations which has hindered their performances.
Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Hon. Danjuma Azi, reminded them that the state assembly was particularly concerned about the revenue generation components in some proposals observed.
