Alia delivers a budget of more than N550 billion to the state assembly for the year 2025

Presenting his 2025 budget to the State House of Assembly in Makurdi, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State titled “Budget of Human Capital Development, Food Security, and Digital Economy” addressed the legislative body.

On Wednesday, during his address to the legislators at the State Assembly, Governor Alia said that the proposed budget, which aims to guarantee ongoing progress, prosperity, and well-being for all state citizens, has an aggregate expenditure of N550,112,988,930.45. According to Alia, this amount is a staggering sum.

The bold and ambitious plan, he said, will be based on the reality of the present and the aspirations of the people, and it will serve as a roadmap to a brighter and more sustainable future in the 2025 budget.This was stated by Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

According to Kula, out of the total budget, infrastructure development takes up 20% or N110,022,597,786.09; agriculture comes in at 15% or N84,081,754,982.67; and education and health each get 15% or N82,516,948,339.57.

In addition to developing strategies for the three IDP paths, the governor mentioned that 0.93 percent of the budget will go into social protection programs like housing assistance, unemployment insurance, and programs to reduce poverty.

“To ensure that no one is left behind, Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members, we have set aside 0.93% of the budget for programs that seek to enhance social protection.

These programs cover a range of issues, including housing, unemployment benefits, and poverty alleviation initiatives.

Additionally, we will be keeping an eye on the three pathways for internally displaced persons: resettlement, relocation, and returnees.

Additionally, 0.93 percent of the overall budget will go toward supporting initiatives related to sports, youth development, and creativity, all of which are essential to our development efforts.

Central to this budget proposal is an increase in financing for state-run facilities that foster athletic development and the search for local talent.

Helping new and small companies get off the ground is another goal of the budget. Entrepreneurs, especially those working in tech-driven fields, will have access to funding, training, and mentorship through new initiatives we’re launching in 2025.

The governor elaborated by saying that 10.68% of the budget is set aside for this specific reason.

When asked about the difficulties and successes of development so far, Governor Alia stated that the state’s security has improved, the 70,000 minimum wage has been fully implemented, and that there are massive ongoing infrastructure rehabilitations.

She also mentioned that the negative consequences of an unpaid workforce have been stabilized.

There are forty-six(46) spots available for students from Benue State on the United Nations Volunteer Full Funded Scholarship Program, and the state has received substantial donations totaling eighty-five billion, seventeen million, sixty-one thousand, one hundred and eleven thousand naira, eleven kobo only (N85,017,621,111.11K), according to the governor.

These grants have been received through the bureau of international cooperation and development.

Because of the changes made to the 2024 budget, he said, the total amount for 2024 came to three hundred and seventy-three billion, twenty million, five hundred and sixty-seven thousand, three hundred and nineteen thousand Naira (N373,020,567,319).

With these buffers in place, the state can absorb shocks caused by macroeconomic uncertainties, which is why the governor claims it was a 65.3% increase over the initial 2024 Budget.

The state and local government system will be fiscally strengthened and made more transparent in 2025, he promised, thanks to the Budget and Economic Planning Commission, which will be under his supervision.