Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-makura, has announced a 50 per cent deduction in his own salary, as a result of the economic downturn bedevilling the state and the country at large.

The governor   said this on Thursday, at the Government House, Lafia, while signing into law, N79.3 billion appropriation bill, passed by the state House of Assembly.

According to Al-makura, “the deduction would also affect other  political appointees as there would be 20 per cent deduction from their salaries and 30 per cent would be deducted from the deputy governor”.

He  said  that the move is to set examples for everyone under the state government to reduce their expenditures in view of the current economic trend in the country.

The governor also said that the “2016 budget of pragmatism”, would only focused on projects that has direct impact on the lives of  inhabitants of the state.

Al-Makura affirmed that his  administration would accord  priority to the completion of all ongoing projects in the state, saying the state government would not embark on white elephant projects.

The governor said that the budget will focus on infrastructure, education, health, agriculture among others.