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Monday, February 10, 2025

Benue Assembly approves N550.1bn 2025 budget

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The Benue State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Hyacinth Dajo, has passed the 2025 appropriation bill totaling N550.1 billion.

During Monday’s plenary in Makurdi, the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Appropriation, Cephas Dyako (LP/Konshisha), led the debate, revealing that the 2025 proposed budget’s total revenue projection is N550.11 billion.

Dyako highlighted that the 2025 estimates were N177.09 billion higher than the 2024 supplementary budget, representing a 47.5% increase over the revised 2024 budget.

He explained that the 2025 recurrent expenditure would amount to N175.41 billion, with N80 billion allocated for personnel costs and N95.39 billion for overheads.

The capital expenditure for 2025 is projected at N374.70 billion.

Despite earlier resolutions against extra-budgetary spending, Dyako expressed concern that some ministries, departments, and agencies continue to engage in unconstitutional financial practices.

In his contribution, William Ortyom (PDP/Agasha) praised the committee for its swift work on the budget.

However, he raised concerns over the N79 billion allocated to the newly created Bureau of Special Projects and Infrastructure, questioning the bureau’s mandate. He also noted the lack of funding for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Scholarship Board.

Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) urged the House to expedite the budget approval process.

After reading the bill for the third time, Clerk John Hwande confirmed its passage.

Speaker Dajo advised Dr. Jerome Andohol, the Director-General of Economic Planning, to submit future budgets in a timely manner to allow ample time for thorough review by the Assembly members.

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