Taraba Assembly Receives N148bn Supplementary Budget Proposal From Kefas

The Taraba State House of Assembly has received a proposed N148.26 billion supplementary budget from Governor Agbu Kefas for consideration and approval.

The proposal, contained in an executive communication forwarded to the House, puts the total supplementary budget at N148,262,489,531. Speaker John Kizito Bonzena read the communication during plenary.

The governor said the additional spending plan was designed to address strategic needs that were not included in the state’s 2026 Appropriation Law. The proposal also targets security, protection of lives and property, and the general welfare of residents.

The bill passed through its first reading before lawmakers moved to the second reading on the same legislative day. The Deputy Majority Leader said the supplementary budget was necessary because of changes in government policies and emerging priorities.

Following debate on the proposal, the Speaker referred it to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further consideration. The committee was directed to conduct a public hearing and submit its report to the House within one week.

The Assembly also considered the Taraba State University, Jalingo Re-enactment Bill, 2025, adopting the report of its Committee on Education after deliberations.

The committee, chaired by Josiah Angye Yaro, recommended that the university’s Vice-Chancellor should serve a single, non-renewable five-year term, with no provision for reappointment or extension.

It also recommended replacing the phrase “Investigation Committee” with “Disciplinary Committee” in Section 55(1)(d) of the bill, saying the change would align the provision with practices in the Nigerian university system.

After considering and adopting the committee’s recommendations, the Assembly referred the university bill to its Rules and Business Committee for scheduling of the third reading. The House then adjourned until its next legislative sitting.