PLSG Engages Stakeholders In Budgeting Process.

Nanyah Daman

The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with the State Ministry of Finance in Plateau State has commenced the processes of supporting the State Government towards attaining a perfect budgeting for the State in the year 2020.

To this end, a Special Interface has been organized for Government officials, Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as other critical stakholders in the state budget preparation processes .

In his welcome address to the stakeholders from the Northern Senatorial Zone of Plateau State at the Azi Nyako Youths Center, Dadin Kowa, Jos, the Plateau State capital, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. James Dalyop said the stakeholders meeting which is the third in the series was to strengthen transparency, accountability and sustainability of Government Policies and programmes.

The Permanent Secretary hinted that“more than ever, Plateau citizens have become the focal point of Government budgetary policy, hence the need to involve them at its preparation stage”.He continued“It is important for me to inform stakeholders that the 2019 budgeting process has since commenced with the collection and collation of proposals from all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and is expected to end very soon for the document to go to the Legislature in good time”.

Hon Dalyop, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Budget and Planning also said” the projects and programmes encapsulated in the proposal reflects the three pillar policy trust of our charismatic, amiable and quintessential Governor, Rt. Barr Dr Simon Bako Lalong’s Rescue Administration which are predicated on Peace, Security and Good Governance, Physical lnfrastruetural Development and Sustainable Economic Re-birth”.He went on
“your inputs at this meeting should be tailored towards supporting the above policies and programmes.So far, the State Government has continued “work on the on-going projects inherited from the last administration which some have been-completed and others will soon be completed while others are still on-going”.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning further posited that,”recently, in an effort to provide more infrastructure to the citizenry of the state, sixteen new roads were awarded covering the 17 Local Govémment Areas of the State”

He said all these have been achieved despite the lean financial resources of the state.

He reiterated that,“I therefore urge you all to contribute towards making this Town Hall meeting a success. You may also note that your role or responsibility does not end with your inputs at this forum however, your partnership with Government in the implementation and executiön of projects is continuous”.

Dalyop urged all to“note also that, the proposed Budget Document is expected to be in line with the needs and aspiration of your various Communities.
Therefore you are to contribute meamingfully and suggest where possible programmes or projects that will meet the yearnings of your local communities so that it will be included in the proposed 2019 Budget and/or Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). ‘
“It is expected that the active participation of the citizens, in the budgeting process would lead to early publication of more realistic budget document, thus timely commencement of implementation, increased generation of revenues and financial reporting”.

Contributing, representatives of the traditional rulers commended the Ministry of Budget for initiating the forum as it avails them opportunity to add their voices to good governance.

Stakeholders observed that, most of the contributions raised during the 2018 stakeholders meeting on the decay of infratrctures in the state, which the government promised to do something about it but till date nothing has been done.

Participants and attendees expressed dismay that up to date government has not been able fix the burnt Jos Main Market, JIB, BARC Farm as promised by the government.

The stakeholders stressed the need for the state government to come out with a policy that will mandate every citizen to pay tax,as at when due, as well as return to the process where traditional rulers were entrusted with the mandate of collecting taxes at grassroots. through the use of Jangali tax system of old.

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Plateau State Government Engages Stakeholders In Budgeting Process