THEME: Budget of Infrastructure Development, Job Creation, and 

Poverty Alleviation

1.

we embark on a journey to shape the future of our beloved 

State. The theme of this year’s budget is clear, given the 

enormous challenges confronting us as a State.

extent that I present to this auspicious Assembly the Budget of 

Infrastructure Development, Job Creation, and Poverty 

Alleviation, which is drawn from my blue print tagged “the 

Strategic Development Plan for a Greater Benue” whose seven 

pillars will serve as the foundation for a more prosperous and 

equitable society.

2. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, may I use this opportunity 

to congratulate you and all Members for your victory at the 

polls and election tribunal, while also acknowledging, and 

appreciating our Benue brothers and sisters, who sought to 

serve the State on various platforms but could not make it. By 

indeed offering themselves for service, their efforts should be 

commended, but as we all know, leadership is of God, who

beacons on whomsoever for this role, at His time and place. I 

therefore call on all that we should come and work together for 

a better and greater Benue, as the time for politicking and 

campaigns are over. It is time to build Benue for the greater 

good of all.

B. The Development Challenges and Progress Contextualized

3. Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, on assumption of Office on 

the 29th May 2023, I was confronted with the malaise of an 

unpaid workforce running to arrears owed them over a period 

of eleven (11) months. Pension and gratuity owed for a period 

ranging to thirty-six months or 3 years. This not only impeded 

on workers’ productivity and motivation, but also stifle 

economic growth, which exacerbated the recessionary period 

and the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the outgone 

government had done the needful to mitigate these effects by 

availing her public servants their dues as at when due, then 

indeed the State would not have transited to the ridiculously 

lowest development ebb, she was handed over to our administration.

 It is worth noting that the second employer of labour in Benue State is the civil service, as such, negatives 

associated with this sector has far reaching economic 

implications on the Benue people. 

4. Mr. Speaker, Hon Members, the inability of the outgone 

administration to pay the Benue State civil servants, at some 

point led to reducing the working days per week from 5-days to 

3-days, more so that civil servants lost the motivation to make 

it to work. This developed into an inert attitude inimical to 

economic growth, which we are trying to correct with the 

prompt payment of salaries. This has also ensured a kick-start

of economic life, amidst good homestead planning of economic 

activities amongst our public workers. 

5. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, we came in to meet a 

mismanaged vault that left a yawning opening balance, which 

had nothing therein. This explains the State of States Fiscal 

sustainability ranking of Benue State ranked 36th out of 36 

states in Nigeria as at 2022. Mr. Speaker, Honourable 

Members, as a government, we had no functional vehicle to 

carry out government business, as the outgone government 

carted away all vehicles (even ambulances), as well as 

vandalized valuables on the pretext of carting away 

government properties. We started public business from 

ground zero. 

6. As a corollary, all state infrastructure, buildings and furniture, 

working tools were in serious decay needing a declaration of 

state of emergency. Our health facilities from basic to tertiary 

care are in comatose, and needing a quick fix. 

7. The poor handling and politicization of our security concerns 

exacerbated the issue of Internally Displaced Persons. We met 

the living conditions of our IDPs in a deplorable state, a tide we 

are trying to turn in their favour, while we explore strategies of 

finally returning them to their ancestral homes. 

8. Mr. Speaker, Hon Members, the outgone administration entered 

into obnoxious Public-Private Partnership(PPP) and or Lease 

contract agreements in the name of her privatization policy. 

These agreements are indicative of the desire to further push 

the State to the core of the vestige of poverty, now and for the 

unborn generation. Our government, which rode on massive 

popularity, and divine mandate, to ascend to power, we owe it 

as a duty to our people, to reverse this negative tide, by not 

allowing a few individuals, shackle our people in chains in a 

vicious cycle of poverty.

9. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it is worth mentioning that 

we met a failed NG-CARES, a program for results initiative of 

the world bank, where Benue State is to benefit $20million

USA Dollars. It might interest you to know, Mr. Speaker, 

Honourable Members that an interest free loan was advanced 

to the State by World Bank to the tune of N1.1billion, as budget

support towards the implementation of this program. The 

intent was to ensure that this loan be invested in the lives of 

Benue People as a condition, upon verification by World Bank, 

it will attract earned grants, which could offset the loan,

thereafter, the State was qualified to draw down from the $20 

million grants pool kept in custody for the her by the bank. As 

it were, this was free funds. But upon verification of the 

investible funds by World Bank, who reported that the outgone 

administration mismanaged the N1.1billion funds, but rather 

left the State with an indebtedness to the tune of 265million. 

On assumption, due to prudent management, we reversed this 

tide by investing another N152million to earn about N1.7billion, 

which enabled the State clear her indebtedness of N265Million, 

leaving us with an earned amount of about N1.4 billion, which 

we hope to reinvest into the lives of our people. 

10.Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it suffices to state that 

investors and most especially Development partners left in 

droves on account of heighten security challenges but 

specifically that Government at the time reneged on payment 

of counterpart funding to most activities requiring intervention 

funding. I have given special attention towards resolving this

issue of enhanced Development financing by creating an 

International Cooperation unit in my office to assist the Benue 

State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, to ensure 

support towards the implementation of this program. The 

intent was to ensure that this loan be invested in the lives of 

Benue People as a condition, upon verification by World Bank, 

it will attract earned grants, which could offset the loan,

thereafter, the State was qualified to draw down from the $20 

million grants pool kept in custody for the her by the bank. As 

it were, this was free funds. But upon verification of the 

investible funds by World Bank, who reported that the outgone 

administration mismanaged the N1.1billion funds, but rather 

left the State with an indebtedness to the tune of 265million. 

On assumption, due to prudent management, we reversed this 

tide by investing another N152million to earn about N1.7billion, 

which enabled the State clear her indebtedness of N265Million, 

leaving us with an earned amount of about N1.4 billion, which 

we hope to reinvest into the lives of our people. 

10.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it suffices to state that 

investors and most especially Development partners left in 

droves on account of heighten security challenges but 

specifically that Government at the time reneged on payment 

of counterpart funding to most activities requiring intervention 

funding. I have given special attention towards resolving this

issue of enhanced Development financing by creating an 

International Cooperation unit in my office to assist the Benue 

State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, to ensure that we bring back all our development partners in their 

droves.

11.

Summarily, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the 

outgone administration simply hid her ineptitude in the veil of 

invading terrorist herdsman attacks on the Benue people, and 

allow the State to be broken. But we campaigned to fix a 

broken Benue, and this we MUST do! God’s willing!

12.

My hope is further rekindled given the massive potentials 

of the State that has a comparative advantage in agriculture to 

others, with potentiality existing in her 80% energetic and 

vibrant labour force, an arable land of about 35,000 square 

kilometers that supports growth of most tropical crops, a 

blessed land with an estimated 34 solid minerals found therein, 

and with River Benue being the second largest water body

within the country.

13.

To this extent, my administration will strive to utilize 

agriculture as one of the fulcrum that will pilot the growth 

process of the Benue people. Efforts and strategies in 

modernizing and developing the agriculture value chain will be 

accentuated, as we acknowledge that the government is a bad 

businessman, we would 

utilize

the 

Public-Private 

Partnership(PPP) model, to ensure that we boost and revive our 

smallholder enterprises as we sojourn towards our Agroindustrial future

C.REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE OF APPROVED 2023 BUDGET

14.

Mr. Speaker, Hon Members may wish to note that on 

assumption of Office being 29th of May 2023, my administration 

met an Approved 2023 Budget of One hundred and SeventyNine Billion, seven hundred and Fifty Million, and Ninety 

thousand, one hundred and Twenty-three naira forty 

Kobo(N179,750,090,123.40K) only.

D. Overall 2023 Approved Budget Performance as at Mid-Year

15. On the whole, the 2023 approved Budget as at mid-year 

recorded a poor performance 

Statistic of 21.7% or Thirty-eight 

Billion, Nine hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Two Hundred and 

Thirty-Six thousand, four hundred and Eighty-Five Naira Eighty-nine 

Kobo(N38,986,236,485.89K) Only.

16. Capital expenditure performed at ridiculous levels of 7%, of the 

total capital votes while 

recurrent expenditure noticed a 

performance of 31.9% of the total recurrent votes. 

(Details of these are populated and uploaded on the website of the 

Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission)

E. Reasons for the Revision of 2023 Approved Budget 

17.

Drawing from the foregoing, Mr. Speaker, Hon Members, 

should please note that the evaluation of the 2023 Approved 

Budget warranted a revision with the intent to rejig the 

economy and ensure the reversal of negative fortunes 

associated with the implementation 

of the Approved 2023 

budget. Furthermore, some objectives targeted by us meant a 

revision became imperative. This revision was made utilizing 

Virements within the same 

budget space, to achieve the 

following objectives;

i.

That we intended to make adequate provisions of votes, so 

as to undertake the construction of critical infrastructure, to 

include urban and rural roads network, street lighting 

project, as well as enable the accessibility of quality water 

to the Benue citizenry.

ii. That our intent to provide fertilizer and other farm inputs to 

Benue Farmers at subsidized cost.

iii. That as a government our intent to reach her vulnerable 

group via the NG-CARES program became paramount, given 

the enormous gains associated with this program. More so 

that the outgone government under Ortom’s watch had 

mismanaged resources on this program to incur for the State 

a debt obligation of N265million that must be paid as a sine 

qua non to further access grants from World Bank.

iv. The intent of government to Improve on the technology, 

which will assist towards blocking leakages associated with 

Internal revenue generation, and the shrouded activities on 

the Staff pay roll and pensions.

v.

That government intended to equitably utilized the 

palliatives offered by the Federal Government as a shock 

stop-gap associated with the removal of fuel subsidy, to 

assist hedge the shock on her youth, women, farmers, 

pensioners, students, persons living with special needs, and 

transportation for all. 

vi. That the Ortom-led administration having at half –year 

performed abysmally poor with an overall 21.7% statistic, as 

well recording an outrageous poor statistic of a mere 7% 

performance for capital expenditure, while overheads 

recorded about 40.6% performance on primarily votes on 

Government House, Deputy Governor’s Office, Ministry of 

Finance, Office of the Accountant General, Office of The 

Secretary to the State Government, and Bureau for Internal 

Affairs and Security Services, which assumed extrabudgetary figures. There was need for a revisit on these 

budget Heads if my administration was to function optimally 

moving towards year end.

vii. That as a corollary to the above, these aforesaid agencies, 

under the Ortom-led Government, had primarily overshoot 

their spending votes, as approved by the 2023 budget, to 

give them an extra- budgetary spending schedule, to the 

tune of Two billion, Two hundred and sixty-eight million, five 

hundred and eighty-four thousand, nine hundred and twenty 

naira (N2,268,584,920) only.

viii. That the 2023 Approved Budget by the Ortom-Led 

administration was principally an assemblage of numbers, 

within a document called an Approved 2023 Budget that was 

not meant to be implemented. This was observed in the 

ridiculous under-costing of so many capital line items, in the 

2023 Approved Budget, as such the 2023 budget was Dead 

on Arrival(DOA). To this extent, a revisit was solicited.

ix. That the 2023 Approved budget did not reflect any line item 

to depict that Benue State workforce were owed salary 

arrears of the fiscal year 2017 culminating to about 6

months. To address this anomaly, a revisit for adjustments of 

the 2023 Approved Budget was solicited.

x.

Other issues necessitating a revision of 2023 Approved 

budget included; Subsidy Removal did produced both 

positive and negative shocks to the system, traced to 

increasing revenue profile from FAAC for the State; the issue 

of Federal Government N5 billion worth of Palliatives that 

were accorded to the State, wherefore 42% was interestfree loan, and the other part being a 58% grant; a rising 

inflationary trend being compounded with the exchange rate 

volatility, that was associated with the concomitant 

Investors & Exporters (I&E) unification of the exchange rate 

single window policy of the President Bola Tinubu’s led 

Administration. To address these evolving economic 

fundamentals affecting the Benue Economy, a revisit of the 

Approved Budget was solicited. 

xi. That the accompanying overhead costs associated with the 

creation of new Ministries, as well as the overhead costs 

accompanying the take-off of a new administration, are all 

indicators that necessitated a revisit of the Approved 2023 

budget.

xii. Finally, that most of the assumptions as predictors of the 

Approved 2023 budget, had been altered significantly, 

except for Security and Revenue projections that took 

positive tractions. To this extent, a revisit of the Approved 

2023 budget was solicited

F. The Revised 2023 Budget.

18.

It is important for Mr. Speaker, Hon Members to be 

aware that in an effort to mitigate these challenges and 

attain the stated goals already highlighted, which 

were 

drawn from my blueprint tagged “A Strategic Development 

Plan for A Greater Benue” Virements for a functional and 

implementable budget were made to the tune of Thirty 

Billion, two hundred and Ninety-Six Million, Two Hundred 

and Seventy-seven Thousand, two Hundred and EightySeven Naira Sixteen Kobo(N30,296,277,287.16K) only to 

represent the Revised 2023 Supplementary Budget, which 

still maintained the overall figure of One hundred and 

Seventy-Nine Billion, seven hundred and Fifty Million, and 

Ninety thousand, one hundred and Twenty-three naira forty 

Kobo (N179,750,090,123.40K) only

G. Revised 2023 Total Budget Performance

19. As at Third Quarter Year-To-Date(3YTD) performance the total 

budget performed at 34.6% or Sixty-two billion, one hundred and 

four million, five hundred and forty-five 

thousand, eight hundred 

and twenty-eight naira twenty-seven Kobo(N62,104,545,828.27K) 

only. What this connotes when compared with 2YTD, which is the 

mid-year performances reveal that on the whole, so far, given 

quarterly performances, 

the current administration has 

outperformed the former administration by an overall proportion 

of 59.4%; while again outperforming by 20% in terms of votes 

committed to Capital development; and an outperformance of 

141.6% as regards payment of salaries and 

other personnel 

costs. 

(Details of these performances are uploaded on the website of the 

Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission) 

H. Miles Stones Achieved

20. The following miles stone have been recorded in the span of 6-

months. These include;

 Procurement of 100 public buses for Benue Links to ease 

financial burden of transportation for the masses.

 Reached out to about 2000 beneficiaries in the first phase of 

the World Bank assisted NG-CARES program. We are hoping to 

reach about 9,000 more beneficiaries in the second phase, in 

our zeal to alleviate poverty heading into 2024 fiscal year.

 In our Operation light up Benue, there is a resuscitation of 

hitherto obsolete solar streetlights in Makurdi and environs

 Constructing of 15Km roads in Makurdi and starting of new 

ones across Benue at 50% level of completion

 In our Let’s go Digital Project, the government is training 

youths in information Technology to boost youth creativity and 

job creation

 Construction, Rehabilitating, and opening up of over 23 notable 

roads across Benue State, spanning varying degrees of 

kilometers

 Rehabilitation work ongoing in Teaching Hospital

 Renovation work at the Benue State House of Assembly 

Complex nearing completion

 Prompt Payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities

 Broad comprehensive and Renovation work on State 

Secretariat at 20% level of completion

 Our administration has so far set a pace for zero tolerance to

corruption by establishing a Due Process Office 

 The temporal freezing of all Benue State Accounts on 

assumption of Office has thrown up fictitious transactions and 

approval/Mandates that were approved by the Ortom 

Administration, which inflicted and planned to inflict severe 

negative consequences on the State treasury

31. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I am standing in this gap,

for our generation unborn, as I cannot accrue for them a deadweight debt burden associated with unwarranted social 

elephant projects. 

O. Proposed Recurrent Expenditure

32. The proposed sum of one hundred and ten billion, five hundred 

and eleven million, two 

hundred and thirty-three thousand, nine 

hundred and sixty-five naira ninety-nine kobo 

N110,511,233,965.99K) only is expected as total recurrent 

expenditure. This shows a percentage of 1.9% away from the total 

recurrent cost of the Revised 2023 budget.

33. Personnel cost as a component of the recurrent cost is 

expected to increase by 17.1% as 

against the provisions made 

of the same votes in the Revised 2023 budget. To this extent, 

the proposed sum expected for 2024 personnel cost is Fifty-six 

billion, four hundred and 

seventy-nine million, seven hundred and 

ninety-nine thousand, five hundred and ninety naira fourteen Kobo 

(N56,479,799,590.14K) only.

34. The other component part of recurrent expenditure which is 

the non-personnel cost or overheads is proposed at fifty-four 

billion, and thirty-one million, four hundred and thirty- four 

thousand three hundred and seventy-five naira eighty-four 

Kobo(N54,031,434,375,84K) only. This connotes a 10.3% 

decrease in the preposition expected on this line item in the proposed 2024 budget, when compared to provisions made on 

same vote for the Revised 2023 budget. The decrease 

notwithstanding, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it shows 

how primarily we want to be associated with efficiency in the 

disbursement of our funds, while also noting that training and 

retraining of all civil servants for optimum service delivery will 

be an item on our front burner, as well as upgrading the necessary 

infrastructure and working implements at all government 

Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. 

P.

Proposed Capital Expenditure

35. The proposed allocations for capital expenditure in the 2024 

budget has received a massive boost of 61.6% when compared 

with provisions made on this head in the Revised 2023 budget. 

The proposition on this head stands at One hundred and fifteen 

billion, two hundred 

and sixteen million, one hundred and sixtyone thousand, two hundred and forty naira 

ninety-nine 

Kobo(N115,216,161,240.99K) only. Mr. Speaker, Honourable 

Members, the 

completion work, and full equipage of the Benue 

State House of Assembly Complex, as 

well as the construction 

of the Ministry of Justice, The Audit House as Legacy buildings 

will be funded from this Head.

Q. Recurrent Expenditure to Capital Expenditure Ratio (REX: 

CAPEX) compared 

between Revised 2023 Approved Budget and 

the Proposed 2024 Budget 36. Our Projections suggest that REX: CAPEX ratio indicates that 

REX in 2023 was 60% of 

the approved budget and it is 

decreased to 49% in the 2024 total proposed budget. This 

indicates an 18.3% decline. On the flip side CAPEX total 

allocations was 40% in the Revised and Approved 2023 budget, but 

it is increased to 51% indicative of a 27.5% 

improvement over 

previous allocations. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, this 

scenario is worth celebrating, while taking hindsight of our past 

budgets. This situation of having a skewed budget in favour of 

capital expenditure as against recurrent expenditure is what as a 

State, we have last witnessed about a decade ago. This shows that 

we are indeed 

desirous of accelerated growth and 

development.

37. This primarily indicates the State’s desire to adopt the model 

of approaching development 

from an investment perspective 

than a consumption perspective, while also providing 

adequately for those consumption activities that will 

complement public investment activities.

38. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I have directed The 

Commissioner of Finance and the Director General Budget and 

Economic Planning Commission to provide 

explanatory details 

of the revenue and expenditure items as articulated above, which 

are provided in the main document. 

R. The Estimates of Sectoral Allocation of Year 2024

S/NO

SECTOR

AMOUNT(N)

%

1 Administration

57,010,299,811.68

25.26

2 Economic

108,812,576,171.87

48.21

3 Law & Justice

12,929,917,572.62

5.73

4 Social 

46,974,601,650.81

20.81

Total

225,727,395,206.98

100

Table 2: Sectoral Breakdown of Expenditure Estimates

S/NO

SECTOR

Amount(N)

%

1 Education

 33,859,109,281.05 15.00

2 Health

 33,881,682,020.57 15.01

3 Agriculture

 28,261,069,879.91 12.52

4 Law & Justice

 12,929,917,572.62 5.73

5 Security

 10,808,400,000.00

 4.79

6 Infrastructure

 80,733,567,010.41 35.77

7 Social Welfare

 7,772,039,422.25 3.44

8 Commerce

 4,154,211,143.88 1.84

9 Others

 13,327,398,876.29

 5.90

Total

225,727,395,206.98

 100.00

39. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Agriculture and 

Infrastructure which are critical elements in the economic sector 

that is pivotal in our development efforts has encompassing votes 

of 12.52% and 35.8% respectively. It is our hope that we avail our 

citizens with modern farm inputs and seedlings towards 

enhancing job creation and poverty alleviation. Additionally, as 

earlier stated, we intend to provide roads, rural electricity, 

affordable water, sanitation equipment and other critical 

infrastructure that will support our development intent, most 

especially in ensuring that food produced in our rural economy 

find inroads to urban areas at affordable farm gate prices. This 

indeed will provide succor to the challenging economic 

environment witnessed by our people, as the capacity for food 

security and self-sufficiency will be enhanced. 

40. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in the continuous 

infrastructure development process, which will ensure the 

strengthening and modernization of BENGIS towards effective 

housing service delivery, my government intends to also “Light 

up” Makurdi and some selected urban centers, as well as enhance 

the digital economy in Benue State in our “operation lets go digital” 

program which seeks to integrate digital literacy and skills 

development amongst the operations of government MDAs and 

our youth. 

41. In continuing with the process of capital development, given 

the outstanding numbers, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the 

judicious utilization of ecological funds to construct 

drainages 

and waterways in Makurdi and selected locations becomes the 

hallmark of this budget, while also exploring and regulating all 

mining and industrial activities in the State.

42. Closely related Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, is the intent 

of this budget to promote the establishment of companies for the 

processing of agricultural products, while utilizing BOT or and PPP 

models from the provision of N4.1billion or 1.84% of the total 

budget. This has the capacity to empower our women and youths

via job creation, as well as encourage women to form and operate 

cooperative societies to further ease access to 

business 

capital. Additionally, the restructuring and reformation efforts 

intended for the Benue Investment Property Company (BIPC) is 

expected to revive and promote creative industries and indigenous 

technology, which has the capacity to stimulate employment as 

well as expand the commercial profile of the State.

43. To further enhance social welfare, which has a 3.44% of the 

total budget allocation, Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, I am 

going to be deliberate on the prudent application of funds meant 

for social investment programs, develop capacity for the differently 

challenged groups, renovate the rehab center at Apir. On the 

other hand, this budget will extend increase funding on facilities for 

sports development and local talent hunt in the 

State. To this 

end, it is my desire that our darling team Lobi Stars should return to

base, on their home turf, for their home games, more so that they 

are doing us proud on the National Football League. Kudos to 

them! Knowing that I am their Number One Fan, I will ensure 

that most of their problems will dissipate into thin air.

44. Human Capital Development, which encompasses Education 

and Health is critical in our development agenda. These sectors 

have an encompassing votes allocation of 15% each of the total 

budget allocation. This is in tandem with the Abuja 2001 

Declaration on health and the World Education Forum 2002 

declaration on education. In meeting this benchmark, the State is

desirous to renovate and equip selected primary and secondary 

schools with 

infrastructure, while also ensuring that there is 

improved funding for all State-owned tertiary education institutions 

in the State for effective service delivery.

45. On Health, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members, we intend to 

strengthen the bond scheme 

on sponsorship of Benue Indigenes 

for further studies in the health sector, so as to prevent brain drain. 

we intend to provide ultra-modern laboratory with quality 

equipment, facilities and technology, of tertiary status in one 

General Hospital in Zone A, while also 

strengthening other

health institutions towards delivering efficient health services right 

at our doorsteps.

46. Our efforts on securing the lives and properties of our people is 

yielding positive results, 

given reports of relative peace in the 

State. Our efforts in this regard will be further strengthen by the 

4.79% of the total budget or N10.8billion that will be utilized 

towards strengthening the operational capacity of our existing 

security organizations, but also primarily evolving strategies of 

rehabilitation and resettlement of our people to their 

ancestral 

homes. God willing, this will come to pass, as I intend to pave way 

for peaceful coexistence between communities and individuals for the development of the State. Additionally, our traditional 

institutions will be supported in the task of maintaining intra 

and inter-State peace and security in their domains. But in the 

interim, The Ministry of 

Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster 

Management in conjunction with the Benue State Emergency 

Management Agency will be well funded to address the immediate 

welfare concerns of our IDPs.

47. Furthermore 

Mr.

Speaker, Honourable Members, 

my

government will ensure a reengineering of a functional budget 

system in the local government system by keeping the relevant 

institutional frameworks charged with this responsibility on their 

toes, which include, Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Local 

Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and 

the 

Benue State

Budget and Economic Planning Commission. The essence is to 

complement State direction and have a coordinated State-wide 

plan that is beneficial to the 

Benue citizenry.

48. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, as we take steps towards 

reengineering our information, culture and tourism potentials, it is 

worth renovating the Benue State Arts 

Council Complex, 

repositioning the Benue State Television Corporation towards full 

digital transmission and upgrading the services of Radio Benue 

towards optimum information dissemination, which can be funded 

from the N13.3 billion or 5.9% of the total budget allocations.

S. The Anticipated Challenges of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

49. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the implementation of the 

2024 budget as noticed will be implemented amidst some 

challenges. A mention of these challenges 

include the following

i. The rising trend of inflation noticed in 2023 fiscal year is taking an 

astronomical outlook, which will affect real income 

ii. The continuous volatility of Exchange rate given the newly 

introduced exchange rate regime that tends to narrow the investor 

and trading gap. This has the capacity to further compound the 

inflationary trend.

iii. The challenge of managing outstanding domestic and foreign

debts, which impede on statutory receipts 

iv. The challenge of managing arrears of salaries, pension and 

gratuities owed the Benue State Public service workforce

v. The recurring problematic of garnishing government accounts 

that continuously hamper smooth governance

vi. The narrowing gap towards financing recurrent and capital 

votes. 

vii. The teething problems associated with reforms, where some 

individuals are antithetic to change, as such causing negative 

lag effects to the prevailing institutional reforms 

viii. The teething problems associated with creation of new 

ministries

ix. Though Benue State has enjoyed relative peace when compared 

to 2022, but there are still pockets of violence and insecurity 

noticed in some areas. This narrative does not augur well for the 

business climate.

T.

Mitigating the Challenges of the Year 2024 Fiscal Budget

50. In as much as we cannot wholesomely control the risks that 

might confront the 

delivery of set goals enunciated in the 

2024 budget, we can however provide buffers to 

absorb 

unforeseen and uncontrollable shocks to the system. 

51. Mr. Speaker, Hon Members, high level talks are with 

consultants towards hedging revenue 

leakages associated with 

mining activities in the State. It is expected that a crystallization 

of these talks will boost our internal revenue significantly, 

which will enable the realization 

of most set targets in the face 

of rising inflation, which has the capacity of dwindling the real 

effect of income.

52. The Provision of the counterpart budget line item, serve as a 

buffer to system shocks. This provides a platform for grants to 

be matched by donor agencies, towards impacting on the 

development agenda of the State. In essence, this causes a release 

of funds for the State, to channel into other critical areas.

53. The continuous implementation of the World Bank assisted 

programme- for- results 

to include State Action on Business 

Enabling Reforms(SABER) and the Nigeria COVID- 19 Action 

Recovery and Economic Stimulus(N-CARES) will transmit to release

of grants, 

which will boost our net inflows, and serve as 

absorbers to mitigate any shock to the system.

54. The deployment of improved technology in our payroll system; 

the intended introduction of smart attendance and management 

register to enhance supervision of Staff in the State; the 

sustenance to completion of Benue State Geographic Information 

Service Project; the 

compliance of the provisions of the Fiscal 

Responsibility Act, the Procurement Commission, and the Debt 

Management Law are financial efficiency mitigating activities 

that will provide absorbers in the public financial management 

sector, in the event of economic shocks to the system. These have 

the capacity to stem revenue leakages and boost the attainment 

of set targets, benchmarked for achievement by the 2024 fiscal 

year. 

U. Conclusion

55. Mr. Speaker, Hon Members, everyone is a stakeholder in this 

government, it is the reason 

that I offer my hand of friendship 

and fellowship, to all NGOs and faith-based 

organizations,

to 

provide veritable platforms for growth in their corners, via 

information, humanitarian, health, educational or agriculture 

extension services, multisector interventions amongst others, so 

that we can build a Benue of our dreams.

56. To the press, as the fourth real of government, I enjoin you to 

hold me and all my appointees accountable via constructive 

criticism, as this might serve as motivation fuel for us, to wake up 

and do the needful, as regards the biddings and aspirations of the 

Benue people. 

57. Mr. Speaker Honourable Members, and my Benue Family, may I 

use this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and a 

prosperous 2024. May God mercies abound now and 

forever 

more as together, let us build Benue State, where every citizen has 

the opportunity to thrive.

58. Thank you, and may we achieve great success in the journey ahead.