Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, presented the 2025 Budget to the State House of Assembly on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. The proposed budget, titled “Budget of Human Capital Development, Food Security, and Digital Economy,” has an aggregate expenditure of N550,112,988,930.45.
Infrastructure development tops the list of priorities, with a budgeted sum of N110,022,597,786.09, representing 20% of the total budget. Agriculture follows closely, with a proposed budget of N84,081,754,982.67, representing 15.28%. Education and Health sectors each have a budget of N82,516,948,339.57, representing 15%.
The budget also allocates 0.93% for programs aimed at improving social protection, such as unemployment benefits, housing, and poverty alleviation initiatives. Additionally, sports, youth development, and creativity will receive funding from 0.93% of the total budget.
Governor Alia emphasized that the 2025 budget will serve as a roadmap to a brighter, more sustainable future, with a bold and ambitious plan grounded in the realities of the present times and in the aspirations of the people.
The governor also highlighted the progress made so far, including the stabilization of the negative implications associated with an unpaid workforce, the full implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, and massive ongoing infrastructure rehabilitations, as well as improved security in the state.
