Gov Samuel Ortom Presents N133Billion 2016 Budget.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, today presented a budget of N133 billion to the State House of Assembly.Making the presentation he disclosed that disclosed that capital expenditure would be N67.4 billion while the recurrent would be N65.9 billion.

According to the Governor, the economy sector has the highest allocation of N58.3 billion, representing 43 per cent of the budget while the social sector came second with N49.3 billion or 36 per cent.
“Our objectives in the economy sector include encouragement of micro, small, and medium scale enterprises, commercial and investment activities that will create massive jobs, wealth and opportunities” he stated.
“We have prioritized agriculture with emphasis on farm mechanization, land development, rehabilitation of agro-service centers and colleges of agriculture.”
This, he said, was in line with his administration’s key pillar of agriculture-driven industrialization with a view to generate wealth as well as provide employment for youths.
Governor Ortom listed the establishment of Benue Information Technology Development Agency, BITDA, to deploy ICT for empowerment and e-governance.
He stated that provision was made in the budget for training of primary and secondary school teachers and renovation and furnishing of the schools.
Responding, the Speaker expressed appreciation to House members for cutting short their recession to attend the session and requested that next year’s budget be presented earlier.
He expressed hope that the provisions of the budget would initiate change for better life which the people voted for.