By Francis Ogwo
About 82 billion naira has been earmarked by the Taraba State Government to be spent on the exploration of untapped mineral resources in the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Solomon Elisha, on Monday while addressing the media during which he stated that the state government has begun the process to explore the untapped mineral resources to boost the state IGR.
According to Elisha, the untapped resources in the state were capable of turning Taraba into an economic hub of Nigeria.
He noted that the state government has planned to spend N82,242,640,650.90 as recurrent expenditure in the 2021 budget while the balance of N59,382,795,310.90 has been transferred to capital development.
According to the commissioner, a committee has already been set up to ensure a reality of the project, stating that the 2021 budget tagged, “Budget of restoration” has taken cognisance of the state workers N30,000 minimum wage.
He also assured that the state government would complete all ongoing projects in the state before 2023.
“We believe that the untapped mineral resources in this state are capable of boosting the state IGR and making Taraba an economic hub of Nigeria.
“A committee has been set up already to ensure a reality of this project,” Elisha explained.
Elisha named members of the committee to include Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Jessy Ashumate; Commissioner for Land and Survey, Hon. Gambo Ndafo; Commissioner for Urban Development, Hon. Saleh Sa’ad and Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. David Ishaya.
Other members of the committee according to the commissioner are: Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Yusuf Tanimu Njeke and Chairman, Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue, Dr. Simon Ambita.
Taraba State was created out of the former Gongola State on 27 August 1991, by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The state was named after the Taraba River which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba’s capital is Jalingo. The inhabitants are mainly of the Fulani, Hausa, Mumuye and Jenjo tribes.
