Governor Darius Ishaku executive governor of Taraba state, presented the 2019 budget to the Taraba state house of assembly, the budget wsums up One Hundred and thirty one Billion, seventy Three Million, Seven Hundred a twenty six thousand, Eight hundred and Eighty two Naira Fifty Eight Kobo  (131,073,726,882.58).

 Below he stated

"Honourable Members

_. It, is with a deep sense of gratitude to God that I present to this Honourable House the 2019 Appropriation Bill. We will give God all the glory for helping us

steer the ship-of-state affairs through the turbulent 2018 fiscal year. It has

been a period of pain occasioned by incessant attacks from herders’ militias

which haye made several of our dear citizens homeless.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this 8th Assembly began with members of  this noble acumen who brought to bear their expertise on quality legislations. ‘ Within the 8th Assembly, two (2) of your indefatigable colleagues who started the journey with you are no longer with you today. One left the shore of this earth due to ill-health and the second  who incidentally was with us last year during the 2018 Budget presentation was kidnapped and later gruesomely mudered. Mr Speaker, I know that this might not be in tandem with your rules for the Executive to solicit for this but permit me to request that we stand for a minute silence on their behalves. (May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace, amen).

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I want to express my appreciation for the support the Executive Arm has received from this Honourable House since we commenced the implementation of the 2018 Appropriation Law. Before I present the 2019 Appropriation Bill, may I crave your indulgence to present a brief'score card of the 2018 Appropriation Law which this Honourable House passed at the beginning of this year.

"”2018 BUDGET SCORE CARD .

The Cardinal objective of the 2018 Budget was to set expenditure at such a sustainable level so as to have optimum for the majority of our citizens. As a
result we accorded premium to the completion of all on-going projects thus
focusing on improvement in service delivery and governance.

Mr Speaker and Honourable Members may recall that this Honourable House appropriated the sum of One Hundred and Four Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Six Naira, Fifty One Kobo (N104, 232, 552, 706. 51) for the services of the State Government for the 2018 fiscal period. This was broken down into Fifty Three Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Six; thousand, Thirty Seven Naira (53,625,536,037.00) for recurrent
expenditure while the balance of Fifty Billion, Six Hundred and Seven Million, Sixteen. Thousand, Six Hundred and $ixty Nine Naira, Fifty One Kobo (N50,607,,016,669.51) was for capitalinvestment. In addition, 3 Supplementary Appropriation amounting to Twenty Five Billion, Three Hundred and Forty one million, Six Hundred and One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Eight NaIra, Ninety Kobo (N25, 341, 601, 988. 90) made of Five Billion, Seventy Five Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Four  Naira, Forty One Kobo (N5, 075, 866, 254. 41) as recurrent expenditure and Twenty Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Four Naira, Forty Nine Kobo (N20, 265,735, 734. 49) for capital expenditure which was passed last month by this Honourable House. Equally, internal virement in respect of Magnetic Resonance lmaging (MRI) for the Ministry of Health and Jalingo Water Project for the Ministry of Water Resources amounting to Two Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty Four Million, Four Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Five Hundred  Seventy Nine Naira, Fifty One Kobo (N2, 484, 419, 579. 51) was also approved by this Honourable House In the same period.

As at 30th‘September 2018, provisional data shows that a total sum of Sixty IOne Biilion, Five Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty : Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Nine Naira, Ninety One Kobo (N61,525,934,609.91) accrued from the recurrent and capital sources of revenue. This is broken down as follows: Federal Statutory Revenue of Forty Two Billion, Five Hundred and Ten million, Twelve Thousand, Four Hundred and IEiftySeven Naira, Forty Five Kobo (N42,510,012,457.45), Internally Generated Revenue of Four Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Two Naira, Eighty Six , Kobo (N4,130,930,232.86), Aids and Grants of Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety Six Million, One Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand, Nine Naira, EIghty One Kobo (N2,996, 199,009.81), Domestic Loan of Four Billion, Six Hundred and Seven Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Eighteen Kobo (N4, 607, 650, 813.18), External Loan of One Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty Nine Million, One Hundred and Twenty Seven
Thousand, Six Hundred and Five Naira, Ten Kobo (N1,669,127,605.10) and Paris Club Refund of Five Hundred Billion, Six Hundred and Twelve Million,fourteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety One Naira, Fifty One Kobo (5612 014,491.51) out of which Government had expended the sum of Forty Eight Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Six Thousand, Fifty Nine Naira, Sixty Kobo (N48, 373, 656, 059. 60) on recurrent activities and Thirteen Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Two Hundred. and Seventy Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Naira, Thirty One Kobo (N13, 152,278,550. 31) for capital layout This shows that the “performance in our revenue profile fall short of what was to be generated. so With the shortfall in our revenue profile and the attendant rise in the cost of living due to inflation, we were only able to attend to these key projects in the Budget. This is aside our recurrent commitments of personnel costs and

overheads

Agriculture

 Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, this administration consolidated on ensuring that agricultural inputs and machineries namely fertilizers and 100 numbers mini-tractors (Power Tiller), sesame, rice seeds and cocoa pods were procured and distributed at subsidised rates to farmers. The sum of Five hundred and Sixty Four Million, Two Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, sixty seven Naira, Ten Kobo (564,291,06110) was spent in the agriculture sub-sector during the period under review. Also the subsector witnessed an official flag-off of the European Union (EU) support for Food Security and  resilience in the State. The EU intervention will be implemented by Oxfam in collaboration with the State Government who will be working directly with the benefiting farmers in Ardo Kola, Yorro and Zing Local Government Areas for a period of 4 years. The sum of Ten Million Euro will be spent in the course of this intervention. It will come in two (2) tranches of Five Million Euro each.

Works And Transport

Apart' from consolidating on our Rescue of Wukari-Tsokundi and LachekePantisawa roads, Takum Chanchanji and Bali Serti Gembu roads, Government has’ awarded and signed agreement of the construction of Mararraba Baissa Abong roads in three (3) lots to three (3) different reputable contractors and Dual Carriage way from Jauro Yinu to Kpantinapu and a bridge across river NukkaI The State Government has so far committed the sum of Four Billion
Three Hundred Million Naira (N4, 300, 000,000 00) on road projects Also gevernment has spent the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Four Million, Eight Hundred ahd Eighty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty Six Naira, Sixty One Kabo (N454, 889, 436. 61) on the provision of Solar powered street lights on the newly constructed Jalingo-Kona road. In the same vein, the sum of One Hundred and Seventy Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N176,500,000.00) was spent on procuring Airport Navigational Equipment and effecting repairs on the run way to enhance safety in the Danbaba Suntai Airport. Lastly the sum of Twenty Million Naira (N20, 000, 000. 00) was spent to establish Road Traffic and Motor Vehicle Administrative Agency.

WATER RESOURCES

In the period under review, the State Government championed the reform of the water Supply Sector to enhance service delivery and boost revenue generation This was done through the sustenance of funds for the expansion of water supply to Jalingo Metropolis and provision of water supply to urban communities. Also we were able to drill and install 215 number hand-pump borehbles ’in fifteen (15) LGAs so as to provide potable water to rural communities. Government has concluded the negotiation for the AfDB funded RUral Water Supply Sanitation and E-WASH Service improvement Plan which is to be supported by USAID. Therefore, in meeting up with both urban and rural water supply needs of the State, the sum of One Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira (N1, 900, 000, 000. 00) has been Spent in the provision of water supply architecture In the State.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

To sustain our Rescue Mission in the Rural Development sub-sector, this administration has continued to provide infrastructure in the rural areas so as to‘ halt or reduce to a barest minimal rising urbanrural drift. As a result government in the period under review provided electricity in part of Takum -; Mutum Biyu, installed electrical breaks and substation in Donga and solar power system in Wukari, Gembu and Baissa General Hospitals. Also twenty ‘(20') number transformers have been procured to boost rural electrification in the State. Added to the intervention in the electrification of the rural areas is the construction and rehabilitation of some rural roads in Ardo Kola, Bali, Donga, Takum and Zing Local Government Areas. The sum of One Billion, Five Hundred and Four Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand, Six Hundred arid five Naira, Twenty Five Kobo‘(1,504,710,605.25) was spent in providing these feciiities in the rural areas of the State.

HEALTH CARE DELIVERY

The year has witnessed tremendous intervention in the health care sub-sector in the State. Renovation works in the Bambur and Gembu General Hospitals have appreciated significantly in the regions of 80% and 65% respectively. Supply of hospital equipment name|y bed/beddings, theatre instrument and Consumables  were procured for the Wukari General Hospital. The State Government has also contracted the procurement of four (4) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines for the General Hospitals in Wukari, Gembu and Takum Specialist Hospital in the sum of Two Billion, Six million Naira (N2,600,000,000.00) only. Generally drugs and other hospital consumables were also procured for the State hospitals including anti snake venom. The coming up on-stream of the Rifkatu Danjuma Maternity has boasted intervention particularly in reproductive health cases and has reduced to thebarest minimal problems associated with them. In the whole, the sum of Eight Hundred and Eighteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand One Hundred and Forty Four (N818,849, 144.00) has been spent on services to secure the health of our people. Also' In order to reduce patient to doctor ratio,government engaged twenty (20) consultants and twenty (20) medical officers to strengthen service delivery In our hospitals. Another modest achievement Is  in the implementation of NSHIP performance based financing (PBF) programme in our Primary Health Care delivery. To this end, Forty Nine (49) health facilities spread across Jaiingo, Ardo Kola and Takum are having enhahced service delivery with plans for scaling up to Gassol, Wukari and
Sardauna Local Government Areas by first January 2019.

EDUCATION '

Mr Speéker, Honourable Members, in the education sub-sector government has centinued to improve infrastructures in our tertiary institutions including furnishihg; remodelling of 655 Takum to international standard; provision of seience and sport equipment, digital teaching kits for teachers and start-up working tools for industrial students and facilitated a routine student exchange program.Also to secure Taraba State University land from encroachment and land grabbers perimeter fencing is being erected to prevent intruders. The Sum of Five Hundred and Thirty Five Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Eight thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira, Thirty Five Kobo (N535. ,288.,297.3S) were spent in the sub-sector in the period under review.

"V". (

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

The administration’s effort to tackle head-on issues of unemployment and poverty especially among youths in the State has made the government to train and empower 1, 096 persons with start-up packs in two (2) batches in various trades, some of which are already employers of labour. This year, the sum of Two Hundred and Seventy Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N277,750,000.00) has been expended in the period under
review. Worthy of mention in this sub-sector is the partnership this government have received from Hope Afresh Foundation particularly for the training and empowerment of 667 womenfolk with start-up packs.

lNTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE EFFORT

ln our efforts to boost the State Internally Generated Revenue, government egaged both consultants and technology to automate all aspects of the management our revenue. This is to ensure transparency and reduce leakages of revenue to the barest minimum and ease the conduct of business in real time in the State. This has robed off on net collection.

SECURITY

The ugly situation of herder militia that bedevilled the State last year erupted agairi'th'rs‘year and the carnage became unimaginable. Government was apt in providing support to security agencies so as to secure lives and properties. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) also increased astronomically. As a result government and public spirited entities provided relief materials to thé IDPs in order to cushion the effects of the crises. We will continue to lmplore citizens to eschew skirmishes and embrace peace and harmony for development to strive in the State. To this end, government has also engaged
two thousand (2,000) Special Marshals to assist in nipping in the bud the recurrent herders/farmers conflicts.

BUREAU FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHlEFTAINCY AFFAIRS

Mr Speaker, Honourable Membersl you will recall that owing to several  agitations and yearnings in the State for the creation of more districts and chiefdoms, administrations before now tried and visited the subject matter without concluding it until now. This is hinged on my desire to give all the ethnic nationalities in the State a sense of belonging and fulfilment as well as uphold all that are positively embedded in what have been our identities as a people. The exponential growth in population that cut across all strata of society no doubt called for the review of the existing arrangement and therefore the wisdom of my administration to upgrade the existing Chiefdoms and to create new ones in conformity with the present situation cannot be overemphasised. On the whole, Eleven (11) Second Class Chiefs were upgraded and Forty Eight (48) Third Class Chiefdoms were created across the entire State.

2019 BUDGET ESTIMATES

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, as we make strides in our Rescue Mission,
particularly for the last lap of this first phase of making Taraba the leading
economy in the North East Sub-region by 2025, I believe that we can accb'mplish more if our share of the national cake which is being held up by the center is release to us. In this regard, the overarching goal for the 2019 Budget is to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far and open up new vistas that would accelerate the policy thrust of my Green Book.

Consequently, in drawing up 2019 Budget, we were guided by the following macroeconomic variables:

I.  International oil price benchmark of $60 per barrel as determined by the Federal Government,

II.  Oil production quota of 2.3 {million barrels per day,
(iii) ‘ United States Dollar exchange rate to N305, and (iv) Internal Revenue growth rate of more than 100% if the capacities of the revenue generating agencies are fully exploited.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, for her services in the 2019 fiscal period, the Government has budgeted the sum of One Hundred and Forty Six Billion, seventy three Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Eight hundred and Eighty Two Naira, Fifty Eight Kobo (N146,073,726,882.58) ' which represents an increase of Sixteen Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira, Seventeen Kobo (N16,499,572,187.17) or 12.73% over the 2018 Approved Budget incIuding the Supplementary.

TOTAL REVENUE BREAKDOWN

The projected revenue of One Hundred and Forty Six Billion, Seventy Three Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Two Naira, Fifty Eight Kobo (N146, 073, 726, 882. 58) comprises Internally Generated revenue (IGR) estimate of Six Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Three Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and
Forty Naira (N6, 353, 554,840. 00) (4. 35%) Federal Statutory Revenue of Fifty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty One Million, Three Hundred and  Thirteen Thousand Six Hundred and Thirty Eight Naira, Eighteen Kobo
(N53,821,313,638.18) (36.85%), State share of Value Added Tax of Ten Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Seven Million, Eighty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty One Naira (N10,227,089,431.00) (7.00%), Domestic Borrowing of Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Four Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand, One Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Twenty One Kobo (N15,134,276,114.21) (10.36%), Paris Club Refund of Five Billion Naira (NS,000,000,000.00) (3.42%), Aids and Grants Loan of Ten Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Nine Naira, Ninety Kobo (N10,878,715,309.90) (7.45%), External Loan estimate of Ten Billion, Three Hundred and Forty Three Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Séven Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty 'Nine Naira, Twenty Nine Kobo (N10,343,777,549.29) (7.08%) and FGN Refund of Thirty Four Billion, Three Hundred and Fifteen Million Naira (N34,315,ooo,ooo.00) (23.49%).

EXPENDITURE

Total Recurrent Expenditure is estimated at Seventy Three Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Two Naira, Twenty One Kobo (N73,24‘7,'292,972.21) representing 50.14%. This is made up of total Personnel Cost of Thirty Billion, One Hundred and Forty One Million, Four Hundred and ) twelve Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Three Naira, Sixty Four Kobo (:N30,1411412,193.64)(20.63%), Overhead Cost of Twenty Four Billion, Five hundred and Thirty Nine Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand,  one Hundred and Sixty Four Naira, Fifty Seven Kobo (N24,539,375,164.57) (16.80%)-and Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges of Eighteen Billion, Five
Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Five Hundred and Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Fourteen Naira (N18,566,505,614.00) (12.71%).

Thé 2019 Budget has a capital expenditure estimate of Seventy Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Six Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Three thousand Nine Hundred and Ten Naira, Thirty Seven Kobo (N72,826, 433,910.37) representing 49.86% with the following sub-sectoral allocation

(i) Agriculture and Natural Resources: Six Billion, Five Hundred and Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty‘ One Naira, Seventy Two Kobo (N6, 507, 995, 761. 72) (4 46%).
(iii)‘ ' Commerce, Industry and Tourism: One Billion, Five Hundred and ~Fifty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand, One  Hundred and Twenty Three Naira, Twenty Kobo  (N1, 557, 360, 123. 20) (1. 07%)
 (iii) Rural and Community Development: Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, Three Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Fifty Naira (N3,997,342,050.00) (2.74%).
(iv) Works, Housing and Transport: Eighteen Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Two Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, FiveHundred and Fifty Eight Naira (N18,294,219,558.00) (12.52%).
Twenty Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira
(v) Finance and Poverty Alleviation: Three Billion, One Hundred and twenty two million five hundred thousand Naira )
(N3, 122,500,000. 00) (2.14%).
(vi) Information: One Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty Three Million Naira (N1,433,000,000.00) (0.98%).

Education: Eight Billion, Eleven Million, Thirty Two Thousand, Sixteen Naira, Eighty Kobo (N8,011,032,016.80) (5.48%). Health: Seven Billion, Five Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Forty Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Nine Naira, Seventy Kobo (N7,547,343,279.70) (5.17%).

‘Social Development: One Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy One Million, Forty Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Four Naira, Ninety Four Kobo (N1,471,040,454.94) (1.01%).

Environment and Forestry: Nine Hundred and Nineteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty Six Naira, Sixty Kobo (N919,844,666.60) (0.63%).

Solid Minerals: Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000.00) (0.17%).

Water Resources: Five Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty Nine Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (NS,929,700,000.00) (4.06%).

Land and Urban Development: Two Billion, Seven Hundred and twenty Three Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Two hundred and Forty Eight Naira, Eighty Two Kobo (N2,723,949,248.82) (1.86%).

Executive: Three Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety One Million, one Hundred and Sixty Thousand, One Hundred and Forty Three Naira (N3,791,160,143.00) (2.60%).

Governance: Two Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Eighty One Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Six Naira, Thirty kobo (N2,S73,081,356.30) (1.76%).

Law and Justice: One Billion, Nine Hundred Million, Eight Hundred , and Sixty Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty One Naira, Twenty Nine Kobo (N1, 900, 865, 251. 29) (1.30%).

(XVII) Legislature: Two billion, Eight Hundred and Forty Six Million Naira " (N2 846, 000,000. 00) (1. 95%).

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, the main thrust of public finance management reforms is to increase state-level fiscal transparency, strengthen " internally generated revenues, increase efficiency in state expenditures and strengthen states' debt sustainability. To this end, Taraba State will benefit from the Federal Government driven World Bank supported State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program for Results (PforR) which is opened to all Nigerian. States. In essence, the support is expected to strengthen fiscal performance of each State through the provision of performance-based grants and technical assistance to States to implement the 22-point Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP) and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitments To qualify for the performancebased grants, the following eligibility criteria must be achieved: 2019 State budget should be approved by the House of Assembly and published online by the end of February 2019 and 2017 Audited financial statement should be submitted to the House of Assembly and published by December 2018.

in the light of the above, I would like to solicit for the support of the honorable House in this regard to consider and pass the 2019 Budget in record time to enable the Executive publish it online before the end of February 2019.

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, I will not conclude this budget presentation without applauding the healthy bond that exist
between the Executive and the Legislature which has given us the drive to accomplish government business with ease.

"it is now my singular honour to lay before this hallow chamber the 2019 Taraba State Appropriation Bill which is christened the BUDGET OF CONSOLIDATION in the sum of One Hundred and Thirty One Billion, Seventy Three Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Two Naira, Fifty Eight Kobo (N131, 073, 726, 882. 58).

Thank you and God Bless

Long Live Taraba State

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria"