BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

DOES the 2012 Appropriation Bill recently presented to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly for consideration by the state governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-makura  present any new lease of life for the people of the state?

THE 2012 budgetary proposals for Nasarawa State recently made by Governor Umaru Al-Makura is stirring different reactions from different sections of the state.

“I am overwhelmed by the governor’s budget speech, especially in this area that would see my three children with disabilities engaged in their own kind of school”, Mr. Peter Ajin, a Lafia, Nsarawa based motor mechanic told this reporter minutes after he heard the Governor make the presentation on radio.

Just as Peter found the governor’s speech especially in the area of establishment of three special schools heart-warming, Ibrahim Agila, a business merchant said the establishment of airport as promised by the governor in the same speech made his day.

Just as some people gave the governor kudos for putting up such plan, the development has not however, gone without criticisms as some economic analysts who read or listened to the governor’s speech with regard to construction of the airport in Lafia, described it as a misplacement of priority, considering the multi-faceted problems which they claimed are starring the fifteen year old state in the face.

“There are many areas of development and concentration in the state that the governor can channel this amount he intends to sink into this airport project that the good people of Nasarawa State will appreciate the more. I can tell you that if you conduct any opinion poll on this issue, majority of the people of the state will tell you that establishment of an airport in the state is not their immediate and priority need for now. Go out and do it and you will come with the result that will go this direction”, he challenged.

Apart from the establishments of special schools for the physically challenged and an airport in the state, the Nasarawa 2012 budget proposes establishments of a state-of-the-art stadium and a University Teaching Hospital to boost operations in the sports and health sectors in that order.

The 2012 budget, standing at N97,566,011,955 with an increase of N16, 059,918,802 representing 19.7% above that of the previous year which the governor christened budget of redemption,  to an average man from the state, brought in some elements that will really transmit development down to the people.

In the budget, a total of forty-five billion, three hundred and thirty-four million, nine hundred and fifteen thousand, nine hundred and four naira (N42, 334,915,904.00) representing 43.39 per cent is for recurrent expenditure while the sum of fifty-five billion, two hundred and thirty-one million, ninety-six thousand, fifty-one naira and eight kobo (N55, 231,096,051.08) representing 56.61 per cent is for capital expenditure.

The 2012 budget was christened budget of redemption, which Governor Al-makura said was, “in tandem with the resolve of this administration to fulfill its promise to uplift the socio-economic status of the good people of Nasarawa State”.

“In so-doing, we are determined to pursue a deliberate programme of salvaging our people from the precipice occasioned by poverty, backwardness, deprivation, disease and, indeed, obvious hopelessness”.

The budget as seen, provides more funds for the education sector than any other. There is no doubt that the rapid socio-economic growth of a given society depend solely on the high level of education of the people in that society.

In recognition of this factor and considering that the state has not reached the educational level expected of it since creation, the governor has not only rolled out a whopping N14 billion to the sector but intends to establish three schools, one in each of the three senatorial districts of the state for people living with disabilities in the state.

Expansion and rehabilitation of infrastructural facilities in all educational institutions of the state would be carried out just as emphasis would be placed on the provision of hostel accommodation and feeding of female students in order to promote the enrollment of girl-child education in the state.

Considering that health is wealth, the Al-makura administration appears not to have been ready to pay lips service to the sector. It is in this regard that the sum of N5.5 billion was allocated to the sector. Under this, a new University Teaching Hospital would be established.

The works and transport sector was critically looked into by the Almakura administration as the sum of N12.4 billion was allocated to it.

In recognition of the fact that Lafia, being not only the capital of the state but the commercial hub centre of the state but which has  not received the much needed attention since creation of the state, the Almakura administration shows significant interest in its development with the planned spending of N13 billion for Housing and general urban development.

To revive the dwindling fortune of sports in the state and stimulate the efforts of sporting men and women, the administration placed the sum of N3.2 billion in the sector. A new state-of-the-art stadium is to be established in Lafia to complement the existing dilapidated Lafia Township Stadium.

The epileptic power supply being faced by residents of the state has given the Al-makura’s administration great concern. The 2012 budget plans to carry out negotiation with prospective development partners with a view to generating power using renewable energy technologies available in the state.

The agenda the governor unfolded in the 2012 budget may have fulfilled his promises during his swearing –in at the Lafia Township Stadium, on May 29,2011.

On that day, he revealed to the people of the state where the problems impeding the fast positive movement of the state lied. He identified myopia, greed and irresponsibility on the part of former leaders of the state as factors militating against its fast and steady socio-economic growth, vowing that the oath of office he took as new helmsman of the state, following his victory at the governor poll marked a fresh start in the life of the state.

The 2012 budget, as seen by economic analysts, appears to have in it, all elements that would in no distant time, address the multi-faceted problems of Nasarawa State. The people of the state are anxiously waiting for this answer to their problems.