Makurdi- The Benue 2015 Appropriation Bill on Tuesday passed the second reading at the state House of Assembly.
It would be recalled that the first reading of the bill took place on Dec. 29, 2014, and that the budget was N98.5 billion with N52.8 billion as recurrent and N45.7 billion as capital expenditures.
The Majority Leader, Mr Paul Biam, said the budget was a realistic estimate of funds accruable to the state.
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He, however, said there was a sharp drop on the budget as against 2014 projection.
Biam said the decline was occasioned by the dwindling funds from the Federation Account, adding “as a result, the state government decided to make the 2015 budget very modest and realistic’’.
The majority leader said that the main objectives of the budget included timely payment of salaries and wages of public servants.
According to him, others are implementation of critical programmes and policies, completion of all ongoing projects and provision of adequate security of lives and property.
He also said that one of the assumptions of the budget was geared towards blocking all revenue leakages to enhance a stable economic and political system.
He, therefore, urged his colleagues to give the bill accelerated hearing.
The Speaker, Mr Terhile Ayua, urged the Clerk of the house, Dr Torese Agena, to read the bill for the second time.
Thereafter, Ayua referred the bill to the Committee on Appropriation for processing, consideration and expeditious passage. (NAN)