Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong, has presented a budget of N133.4bn to the state Assembly for 2021.

Lalong said this while presenting the budget christened ‘Budget of Economic Recovery, Consolidation and Inclusive Infrastructural Growth,’ to lawmakers at the Assembly Complex, in Jos, on Wednesday.

He said, “We shall leverage on the implementation of the 2021 budget, if and when passed by this honourable house; to improve our investments in productive sectors of the economy to increase our earnings and provide some empowerment measures for the citizens.”

Lalong said the budget has been designed to robustly respond to the dislocations caused by Coronavirus pandemic which adversely affected the global economy.

The governor explained that the focal areas for the 2021 fiscal year include Education which would gulp N6.12bn, Works, N6. 7bn; Health, N7.22bn; Water Resources, N4bn; Land and Survey, N2. 9bn while agriculture will receive N3. 9bn.

“This(budget) indicates an increase of N10.6 bn, representing an 8.6 per cent difference above the 2020 revised budget of N122.8bn. This increase is as a result of an increase in both Recurrent and Capital Expenditure estimates”, he added.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Ayuba Abok, assured the governor of the support of the House in ensuring an early approval of the proposal.