FIJ
Plateau State has allocated N20.9 billion for capital projects under the House of Assembly in its 2025 budget. That is more than ministries handling roads, food production and healthcare.
Only the Ministry of Environment got a higher capital allocation than the Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Works, which oversees infrastructure, is getting N14.49 billion, Agriculture — critical for food security in the state — has N8.51 billion, and even the combined capital expenditure for Health and its agencies is N19.45 billion, still less than what lawmakers’ capital projects will receive.
But here’s the issue: Plateau’s revenue performance in 2024 was weak. The state collected only 65.4% of its projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), managing just N25.4 billion.
While it did exceed its projected federal allocation, raking in 102%, or N195.3 billion, it only spent N6.68 billion on capital projects, covering just 29.5% of what was planned.
What this means is that a considerable number of the projects the Governor promised the residents of the state in 2024 went unexecuted.
The reason for the revenue performance is not far-fetched. The state projected N124.54 billion in other receipts but actual collections so far stand at N4.79 billion, with an additional N11.13 billion, reaching just 8.9% of the target and leaving a shortfall of N113.41 billion.
Aid and grants were expected to bring in N26.36 billion, but only N4.73 billion has come in, plus an extra N10.10 billion, meaning only 38.3% has been secured, leaving a N16.27 billion gap.
Capital Development Fund receipts followed a similar pattern. Out of the projected N98.18 billion, only N63.29 million was initially received, with an additional N1.04 billion, making it just 1.1% of the target and leaving a N97.14 billion hole.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN FIJ
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