The Taraba state government says it has earmarked over eight billion naira for the fight against the second wave of COVID-19 related programmes and projects in the 2021 appropriation budget.

This was stated by the state commissioner for budget and planning Solomon Elisha while briefing journalists on the contents of the 2021 approved budget estimates, Channels TV reports.

According to the commissioner, the budget was crafted in compliance with the international public sector accounting standard and has adopted rudiments of best practices as advocated by the Nigerian Governors forum through the states Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and sustainability programme.

Despite the wake of the present economic downturn and perhaps the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the state government is insisting that all ongoing projects will be completed in the year 2021.

” In this regard, there would be a need for all hands to be on deck to explore the abundant untapped resources so as to actualize our dream of becoming the leading economy in the northeast subregion of Nigeria ”

The over 141 billion naira 2021 Taraba budget estimate has its recurrent expenditure capped at over 82billion naira while capital expenditures is over 59 billion naira.

” It is pertinent to note however that 6.13% of the entire budget is set aside to address COVID-19 related programmes and projects ”

”Accordingly, major among the projects to be executed include, agricultural credit scheme, intervention to schools infrastructures, Nigeria CARES Project, dualization of Jalingo city gates, expansion of the airport, Jalingo township water scheme, upgrading of general hospitals, greenhouse projects among several others ” he added.