…N298.07 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR 2018 FISCAL YEAR PRESENTED SUBJECT TO DTHA SCRUTINY, ADJUSTMENTS AND APPROVAL.
Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe (EA Communications).
The main chambers of Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) was filled to capacity today Thursday 19th October 2017, for the presentation of 2018 fiscal year Appropriation Bill.
As early as 8:30am, the Assembly premises became a communication and political pilgrimage of some sort as politicians, top government functionaries, Aides to Delta State Governor and Newsmen besieged the complete to position themselves for the presentation of the 2018 budget draft Bill by His Excellency the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
The arrival of Gov Okowa signalled the smooth take off of legislative activities as the House Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori requested a motion to formally admit the Governor and his Aides to the Main Chambers of the Assembly so as to commence the business of the day.
Promptly, the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Friday Osanebi moved the motion and in the same token commended the proactive leadership and good governance track records of the Governor since assumption of office on May 29, 2019.
“I move that that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and his routine of Aides be admitted into this hallowed chambers for the presentation of the 2018 Appropriation Draft Bill.
“Let me also say here and now that the 2017 Appropriation Bill went through all procedures, it was deliberated upon at committee stages and required processes were strictly followed before the Bill was passed and duly signed into Law by His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State.
“There is no element of truth in the blurred and laughable speculations that the 2017 budget Law was blank. It is merely the figment of imagination of those spreading falsehood and blatant lies,” Osanebi disclosed.
The governor took the centre stage and mounted the podium amidst loud ovation where he did adequate justice to the 2018 Appropriation Bill which he tagged “BUDGET OF RENEWED HOPE AND CONSOLIDATION.”
The budget proposal for 2018 fiscal year was put at a total of N298.07 billion with an increase of N3.62 billion representing 1.21% when compared to the 2017 budget.
Gov Okowa said the 2018 fiscal year budget is anchored on accelerated economic growth and sustainable development. He gave the breakdown as follows:
a) RECURRENT EXPENDITURE – N147.5 billion @ 49.48% of total budget.
b) CAPITAL EXPENDITURE – N150.5 billion @ 50.52% of total budget.
The projected sources of income and revenues for the budget funding when passed into Law was also highlighted by the Governor as follows;
i) INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR) – N71.3 billion.
ii) STATUTORY ALLOCATION AND MINERAL REVENUES DERIVABLE – N178.1 billion.
iii) VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) – N10.7 billion.
iii) OTHER CAPITAL RECEIPTS – N37.8 billion.
Gov Okowa also gave some hints on how the budget sum shall be distributed when passed into Law by the Assembly, as follows:
*ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE – N49.3 billion (Lion share) to further consolidate on the ongoing massive roads construction and rehabilitation across the three Senatorial districts.
*DESOPADEC – N28 billion to enable the commission improve on its performances and spread development to all oil producing areas and communities in the state.
*HEALTH SECTOR – N6.6 billion with N1 billion set aside to boost health insurance scheme for the good people of Delta State.
*EDUCATION – N18.7 billion with emphasis on infrastructure development as part of government priority attention to enhance capital projects and facilitate advancement of technical education, science and technology to further consolidate on human capital development through the education sector.
The governor stated that there are 1,021 primary schools in the state, 469 secondary schools spread across the three Senatorial districts; 443,813 pupils and a total of 332,760 students in secondary schools in 25 local government areas.
He further disclosed that a total of 560 classrooms were constructed and commissioned while 559 classrooms renovated; 59,267 classrooms furniture also provided.
Teachers were provided 884 furniture to create conducive working environment in schools across the three Senatorial districts.
The 2017 budget: The SMART GOVERNOR used the auspicious occasion of the 2018 fiscal year Appropriation Bill presentation to debunk speculations and false claims by the opposition, saying that the budget passed through all procedures, established rules and fulfilled constitutional requirements before he signed it into Law.
“There is no iota of truth in the rumours making the rounds that I signed a blank budget into Law. I have no reason to do such a thing because this government is built on transparency, accountability and honesty.
“The 2017 budget performance from January to September stood at 87.97% as follows; N127 billion was spent. Recurrent Expenditure N104.2 billion spent as against approved budget of N158.5 billion representing 87.97% of 2017 budget. Total 2017 budget was N294.4 billion,” Okowa said.
The 2018 fiscal year Appropriation Bill shall be scrutinized, debated and subjected to due process by members of the State House of Assembly as required by law and House Rules before its passage into Law at a later date.
Gov Okowa was accompanied by members of his cabinet and Aides which includes; Secretary to the State Government, Hon Festus Ovie Agas, Finance Commissioner, Olorogun David Edevbie, Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning and that of Information, Dr Kingsley Emu, Hon Patrick Ukah, personal Aides of the Governor, some party leaders and other dignitaries.
DELTA STATE IN SAFE HANDS.
