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The Delta State House of Assembly on Thursday at a plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Sheriff Oborevwori passed the State’s Supplementary Appropriation Bill that proposed an upward review of the State 2019 budget.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday wrote to the State House of Assembly, proposing an upward review of the State 2019 approved budget to N417.9 billion.
Recall that Governor Okowa had signed into law the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N390.3 billion, made of a capital expenditure of N233.2 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N157.1 billion.
Governor Okowa’s proposal to review the budget was contained in a letter forwarded to the State House of Assembly, and read by the Speaker at Tuesday’s plenary.
According to Governor Okowa, the proposal for the review was informed by the performance of the approved 2019 budget and improved revenue to the state.
He said the review is intended to adjust and realign the budgetary provisions of the 2019 budget to accommodate commitments, priority projects and programmes of government which were not adequately provided for.
The Governor said the review of N417.9 billion is made up of N160.7 billion for recurrent expenditure and N248.1 billion for capital expenditure.
Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere moved a motion for the House to receive the letter from the governor and was seconded by Festus Okoh.
The supplementary appropriation bill passed second reading on Wednesday October 23, 2019 after the Speaker said the bill had been read the first time on Tuesday in line with the rules of the House.
Following passage of the bill, Oborevwori commended Okowa for what he described as his foresight in translating extra revenue that accrued to the state into dividends of democracy.
In a brief remark after the State’s Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2019 was read the third time and passed, the Speaker, congratulated his colleagues for a job well done.
“Esteemed colleagues, I must congratulate all of us on a job well done. This is indeed a sign that democracy is alive in Delta State. I thank His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, our Governor for his foresight in translating extra revenue that accrued to the state into dividends of democracy.
“My dear colleagues, we must count it all joy to be part of this people oriented Government. Once again, I thank God for your untiring support and commitment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Delta Government has proposed a N389 billion budget for the 2020 fiscal year
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen recently in Asaba.
Aniagwu said that the budget approval was part of the decisions reached at a state’s Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by Okowa at the Government House, Asaba.
Giving details on the proposed budget, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr Barry Gbe, said that the approval for the budget followed a rigorous process.
Gbe said that during the process the inputs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state were scrutinised and aligned to ensure compliance and realisation.
Gbe said that the state government Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) adopted the crude oil production figure of 2.18 billion barrel per day and 57 US dollars per barrel bench mark in arriving at the budget figure.
“The Capital Expenditure is about N217 billion and the Recurrent Expenditure is N171 billion. This means that we will do more projects than spend more money on recurrent,” Gbe said.
With the review, the 2019 budget of Delta surpasses the 2020 budget of the State by over N28.9 billion, if the 2020 budget of N389 billion is passed without alteration.
The 2020 budget awaits approval of the House.