Plateau Assembly Passes 2025 Budget, other Bills for Governor’s Assent

The Plateau State House of Assembly has on Monday passed the 2025 appropriation bill, recommending an upward review of the budget size proposed by the governor to five hundred and twenty nine billions, four hundreds and fifty one million, one hundred and sixty one thousand, one hundred and ten naira only (#529, 451,161,110.00).

Recall that Governor Caleb Mutfwang had on the 25th November, 2024, presented a budget proposal of four hundred and seventy one billion, three hundred and forty four million, ninety three thousand, five hundred and forty one naira only, (#471, 344, 093, 541.00), for the Assembly consideration.

Presenting the appropriation bill 2025, report to the Assembly, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Aliyu Adamu of Jos North North constituency, noted that the increase followed recommendations from various standing committees after the budget defense by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government.

With the recommendation of the Assembly, the budget size now shows an increase of fifty eight billion, one hundred and seven million, sixty seven thousand, five hundred and sixty nine naira only, (#58,107, 067, 569.00).

The committee also recommended in their report that the Plateau State Government should release funds to revenue generating MDAs to enable them improve in revenue generation for the state. They also recommended that all MDAs must be consistent in submitting their quarterly reports to the House.

Other recommendations are that the government should release monthly overhead to MDAs for smooth running of government and to enable them function well in generating revenue for the state. It also recommended that the government should pay counterpart funds to attract more grants from NGOs for the development of the state.

During the plenary, the House also received report of the committee on Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges and passed the bill for a law to establish the Office of the Public Defender and other related matters, 2024.

The House also passed the bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Plateau State Water Users Association, 2024, after receiving report from the House Committee on Water Resources and Energy.

Plateau State Magistrate Conditions of Service and Peculiar Allowances and other related matters bill sponsored by Hon. Theodore Maiyaki (SAN), and Hon. Nanbol Listick passed first reading and 14th February, 2025 was slated for second reading of the bill.

There was a motion on matters of urgent public importance as moved by Member representing Riyom constituency, Hon. Dachung Dadon over the attack and killing of 16 persons in Ganawuri of Riyom local government area on Sunday.

In his motion, he called on the Assembly to mandate the Plateau State Governor, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the Joint Task Force JTF in the state to fish out the perpetrators and let the law take it course on them.

Another motion was a call on the Plateau State Government to provide adequate funds, infrastructure and modern equipment to Plateau State Fire Service in order to help reduce Fire Fighting Response Time which was moved by Hon. Abel Nimchak of Langtang North North constituency.

The lawmakers thereafter proceed on recess to resume on the 27 January, 2025.