Nasarawa Assembly Passes N402.57bn 2025 Appropriation Bill into Law

·AbdulRazaq presents N540bn 2025 budget proposal to Kwara lawmakers

 Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 

 The Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N402.57 billion.

This was as Kwara State Governor and Chairman Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF), Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, yesterday presented a total budget proposal of over N540 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the state Assembly. 
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly jerked the 2025 budget by N20 billion against N382.57 billion earlier presented by Governor Abdullahi Sule to N402 .57 billion due to importance in some of some items in the budget and inflation in the market.

Speaker of the House, Danladi Jatau, announced the passage of the bill into law during the House proceedings in Lafia .

The Speaker said that the House approved the upward review of the budget size by N20 billion due to the importance of some items in the budget and inflation in the market.

He said the 2025 Appropriation Bill, if finally assented to by the governor, would enable the state government to execute people’s-oriented projects for the overall development of the state.

 “A Bill for A Law to Issue Out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State (Appropriation) of the sum of N402, 567, 843, 592.03 is read for the third term and passed. 

 “Where N166, 384 435,542.25 as Recurrent Expenditure while N236, 183,408, 049.78 as Capital Expenditure,” he said. 

The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to provide him with the clean copy for his vetting and onward transmission to Governor Sule for his further necessary action. 

It would be recalled that on Friday, November 29, 2024, Governor Sule presented N382.57 billion Appropriation Bill for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for approval, christened ‘Budget of Economic Growth and Stability’.

Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRasaq while presenting the budget at the floor of the state House of Assembly yesterday said the budget stands on projected oil prices of $75 per barrel, daily oil production of 2.06 million barrels, and 6.4 per cent GDP growth.

Christened, ‘The Budget of Economic Stability and Sustained Prosperity Funds’ AbdulRazaq said that, “The funding windows are FAAC receipts, which constitute 48.1 per cent; and opening balance (N62bn), IGR, and other capital receipts that form the balance of 51.9 per cent.”

He said that the government will ensure the completion of ongoing projects like the international conference centre, innovation hub, Patigi Motel, Kwara Hotel, and several roads across the state. 

According to him, “Construction will begin on the multi-story Court House and access roads for Smart City project, alongside the development of 250 mass housing units. Statewide road construction and the reconstruction of Lafiagi and Offa Stadia are also prioritised.”

The governor however earmarked 62.1 per cent of the entire budget to capital expenditure while 37.9 per cent is given the recurrent expenditures. 

According to him, the budget would complete the major infrastructural projects in the state, and fund new ones that include 250 units of mass housing and inner roads in the smart city. 

The stadia in Offa and Lafiagi are also prioritised in the budget, while new roads are to be constructed in Kwara South, North, and Central senatorial zones for easier movement of goods and services within the state. 

AbdulRazaq said construction work will begin on the CourtHouse, while the Metropolitan Square will be upgraded and completed. 

Pointing at massive youth and women empowerment and anti-poverty initiatives, he announced that the social sector gets 32.50 per cent of the plan, while education and health are allotted 16.2 per cent and 10.56 per cent respectively, with a focus on getting the new university of education off the ground and strengthening existing institutions across the state. 

The budget reads in part: “Ministry of Works and Transport gets 17.51 per cent to carry on its massive road construction and maintenance mandate. Reflect our commitment to delivering on promises as resources permit,” recalling how the 2024 budget brought significant benefits to various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social protection.

“In 2024, we supported 171,649 farmers, invested in irrigation systems, and provided N2.2bn worth of farm inputs,” he said.

“We also funded education for 66,000 entrance exam candidates, 58,420 BECE candidates, 28,500 WAEC candidates, and 27,000 NECO candidates. Over 70,000 vulnerable people received social protection, including those impacted by the urban renewal programme.

“The urban renewal programme has transformed the capital city, improving its infrastructure significantly, restoring law and order, and projecting Ilorin as a modern city,” he read.

The governor however celebrated the prudence of his administration, saying “while the year recorded unprecedented investment in physical infrastructure and social welfare, we similarly reduced the debt burden of the state to N58.87b in the third quarter, down from N109.16bn in December 2023.”

Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, who commended the strides of the governor, assured him of speedy and thorough consideration.

The Speaker said the state’s investment in counterpart funds to development partners has bolstered its standing in education, health, and agricultural sectors. 

“On our part as legislators, we will immediately swing into action by looking at the document, and interact with heads of ministries, departments, and agencies at the defence sessions that will be underway shortly.”