By Chukwudi Abiandu
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has set a smart record
in becoming the first governor to present the 2017 budget estimates of his government
to the state House of Assembly this morning (Thursday, November 10, 2016),
tagged “Budget of Fiscal Consolidation and steady progress.”
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| Governor Okowa dropping copy of this 2017 budget proposal at House plenary. |
In his presentation Governor Okowa proposed a budget of
N270.910 for the services of the Delta state government in 2017. He said this
amount comprises the sum of N151.909bn or 56.07 percent for recurrent expenditure
and N119,001 or 43.93 percent for capital expenditure.
The Delta state 2017 budget proposal shows a slight increase
of N2.731bn or 1.02 percent as against the N268.179bn of the 2016 approved
budget.
A total of N35.188 billion is allocated to road
infrastructure in the 2017 fiscal year; education sub-sector has N12billion;
health is allocated N6.3billion; urban renewal is allocated N1.2 billion, with
an additional N900million for the Direct Labour agency for road rehabilitation
and other allocations for projects geared towards the facelift of towns and
cities. Besides, the governor also announced that the sum of N3billion is set
aside for the development of the Delta State capital Territory Development
Agency in the 2017 fiscal year. “Apart from specific provisions made for road
construction in the Warri metropolis, the sum of N1.2 billion has been provided
for intervention in the oil city, while another N1.2 billion is allocated for
the reconstruction of Effurun to Enerhen junction,” Okowa declaed.
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| Governor Okowa exchanging pleasantries with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya shortly after presenting his 2017 budget proposal. With them is Deputy Governor, Barrister Otuaro |
He continued: “In our bid to actively bring development to
our brothers and sisters in the riverine areas, we have provided for road
development in Ugborodo, Ogulaha and Gbaramatu kingdoms (N600million each) and the building of a modern market in Burutu
town. The trans-Warri Road has a provision of N1.2 billion in the 2017 fiscal
year.”
A total of N535 million is provided in the budget in the 2017 fiscal year for the Ministry of
agriculture, while N1.3 billion is provided to sustain the Job creation scheme.
Okowa said that in line with the funding prescription of the
law setting up the Delta state Oil Produving Areas Development commission
(DESOPADEC), the sum of the N28billion, representing 50 percent of projected
derivation revenue receipts from oil accruable to Delta State is set aside for
DESOPADEC in the 2017 fiscal year.
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| A cross-section of commissioners listening to Governor Okowa's budget presentation.. |
On general administration, Governor Okowa said: “This
administration is committed to the application of the rule of law. In this
regard, the state’s justice system will continue to receive maximum attention
in the delivery of justice to our people. We shall continue with the development
of our courts and offices including residential quarters for our throughout the
state. The sum of N400 million and N174 million have been proposed for the High
Court of justice and customary court of Appeal, respectively during the 2017
fiscal year.
“The construction of a befitting state civil service
commission secretariat complex will commence in 2017. Government also intends to
complete the on-going construction of the Office of the Head of service
Complex. No doubt, the construction of a new state secretariat complex and the
office of the Head of Service will not only save costs for the government in
the long term, but also enhance better co-ordination and efficiency of government
operations across the MDA,’ Okowa declared.
He announced that the sum of N1billion has been earmarked
for the secretariat complex, while N100 million is provided for the office of
the Head of Service in the proposed capital budget of the 2017 fiscal year.
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