By Hope Ikwe, in Jos.
The Plateau State government has budgeted a total of 29.1 billion for works, transport and education in the 2019 fiscal year.
Sylvester Wallangko, the commissioner for the budget and economic planning, during the breakdown of the 2019 budget tagged ” Budget of Rescue and Infrastructural Growth” said emphasis would be on the completion of the on going projects.
Of this amount, he sum of N 16, 917,700,000.00 representing 24.85% of the total budget size of N153, 5 billion, was allocated to works and transport sub- sector.
In respect of road construction, the commissioner noted that “the sum of N600 million had been budgeted for the dualization of Old Airport Junction- Rayfield- Bukuru , Gbandang and new Government House. Also, N300 million was earmarked for Langtang- Garkawa-Yelwa-Shendam up to Lalin, Another N300 million is for Fobur-Federe- Angware, while N1 billion is for the construction and resurfacing of Mararaban Jama’a British American Junction.
According to him the government has also ” earmarked the sum of N 213 million to the transport sub- sector, while the sum of N656,7 million is allocated to the State Roads Maintenance Agency for maintenance of the state roads and repairs of equipment.
Wallangko while briefing journalists said the government has committed the sum of N12,2 billion to education which represents 17.94% of the capital estimate.
He further stated that “this amount will be used for the completion of ongoing renovation and construction of secondary schools and the provision of infrastructure at the State’s tertiary institutions”.
The sum of N 100 million has been earmarked for the renovation and building of Technical College Bukuru, N300,000,000.00 for the renovation and building of three science secondary schools in Kuru, Mangun and Shendam and N500,000,000 for renovation and building of 15 secondary schools in the three senatorial zones in the state.
