Chairman of Jos East Local Government Council, Pastor Yakubu Izang Ezekiel had yesterday Friday presented to the Legislative arm of the Council a proposed Budget of Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, One Hundred Seven Three Thousand Naira, Eighteen Kobo (N2,938,861,173.18) for the 2023 Fiscal Year.
Presenting the appropriation Bill which is tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Economic Growth” at the Legislative chambers, in Angware, the Chairman said the present administration under his watch is desirous of leaving behind lasting legacies that would stand the taste of time.
Accordingly, Pastor Izang Ezekiel stressed that the projected available fund stands at Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Naira (N2,820,376,160.00).
Report from the Information Officer of the Council, Yusufu Haruna Magit said Recurrent Expenditure stood at One Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Three Naira, Eighteen Kobo (N1,894,861,173.18).
Capital expenditure stood at One Billion and Forty Four Million Naira (N1,044,000,000.00) with Budget deficit of One Hundred and Eighteen Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand and Thirteen Naira, Eighteen Kobo(N118,485,013.18) to be financed from loan and other financial options.
While reviewing the 2022 Budget, the Chairman opined that the year was full of financial challenges but the Council with cordial working relationship with the legislators, stakeholders and technocrats, there was significant compliance with the budgetary provisions through prudent management of scarce resources in the aspect of rehabilitation of all official vehicles and purchase of new ones including Toyota Hilux for the Council Secretary and Homer bus for Legislative Council.
The Chairman further hilighted that, during the year under review, the Council also acquired Heavy duty Machines to include, Escalator and Bulldozer, while the Council Grader was reforbished and that already have been put to use at Naton Fusa — Maijuju road with the hope of covering all grader roads while the administration last.
Other interventions according to the helmsman of the Council include, purchased of eleven motorcycles for security operatives which attracted award by the Plateau State Hunters Association among many other awards, completion of twenty lockup shops at Angware to boost commercial activities, inaugurated revenue committee and constructed revenue and security post at strategic posts to improve collection of revenue.
Some are completion of electrification projects at Fobur, Federe and replaced nine broken electricity poles at Gada Maigemu Ward which was destroyed by rainstorm, refurbished Vehicles of District heads Shere, Federe and Fursum, collaborated with operation Mercy and sunk eleven new boreholes and rehabilitated those that were broke down across the Local Government Area, installed Mobile booster stations and Solar lights in some Communities across the local Government area among many other interventions.
The Chairman who thanked the Legislators for their prompt approval of the previous appropriation bill, equally showered accolades on the stakeholders and technocrats for their prompt support which he said placed the Council higher above others, called on the legislators to accord speedy passage to the 2023 budget proposal to enable the Council meet the yearnings and aspirations of the teaming populace.
Responding, the Legislative leader, Engineer Samuel Iliya Azi assured of the Legislators readiness to give early scrutiny and approval to the appropriation bill to enable the Chairman assent to it for the betterment of the constituents who gave them the mandate.
He therefore, commended the Chairman for creating a level playing field for the two arms to guarantee successes in the year under review and prayed for a more robust year ahead.