… Says Benue Government to establish budget intelligence unit
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
As the year 2020 comes closer to the end, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Thursday presented the 2021 budget to the Benue State House of Assembly for deliberations and timely passage for for timely implementation.
Governor Ortom also revealed that Benue State Government is to establish a budget intelligence unit as a deliberate policy of his administration to improve the quality and impact of its expenditure.
He further noted that the establishment of the budget intelligence unit, the efficiency unit in the ministry of finance and economic will be saddled with the responsibility to monitor the quality of expenditure as well as strengthened for better performance.
“We are working to improve the quality and impact of our expenditure. To this end, we are establishing a budget intelligence unit and also strengthening the existing efficiency unit in the ministry of finance to monitor the quality of expenditure,” Ortom stated.
Ortom acknowledged challenges of the 2021 fiscal year budget estimates and stated that deliberate steps were being taken to mitigate their impact on delivery of the 2021 proposed budget.
He explained that budgetary provisions were made by his administration to support diligent work being done by the state COVID-19 Action Committee head by the state Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu.
He also noted that a state-wide payroll reform including the deployment of technology using the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System ( NIBSS) is also being undertaken to enhance sanity in the system.
He stated that completion of the Benue State Geographical Information System, (BENGIS) would enhance data for planning and monitoring as well as improve revenue administration.
“implementation of new laws passed by his administration would strengthen fiscal responsibility, public procurement and debt management among others” He stated.
