The Taraba State Government has budgeted N200 million for the ongoing construction of a new government house in Jalingo.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Mr. Augustine Shalonko, disclosed this while defending funds allocated to the ministry under the 2022 budget before the Taraba Assembly Committee on Works and Housing.
The permanent secretary, who represented his commissioner at the session, said the N200 million was allocated in the 2022 budget for the ongoing new government house project embarked upon by Governor Darius Ishaku administration.
The project, located in Kona area, is ongoing and is intended to replace the existing one located in Jalingo town.
He also revealed that the sum of N600 million was allocated to the ministry for 2022 capital and recurrent expenditure.
He, however, said the absence of a housing authority in the state has prevented the state from accessing funds from federal housing projects which states that have housing authorities had been benefiting from over the years.
The permanent secretary stated that a draft bill for the establishment of Taraba Housing Authority is being prepared and would be presented to the house.
