The Governor of
Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday assented to the 2020
Appropriation Bill, with a promise to fast-track infrastructural projects for
the benefit of Deltans during the period.
The governor
signed the bill in Asaba in the presence of the Speaker Delta State House of
Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who presented it to him, along with
principal officers of the assembly.
He stated that in spite of the trying times in the nation, his
administration would do its best to work with the budget to achieve its
developmental goals.
According to
him, with the Appropriation Bill signed into law today, it has become obvious
that we as a government now have the financial document with which we can work
and hit the ground early 2020.
``It is very
instructive for us members of the executive arm of government that we pray that
God will provide the resources projected within the budget in terms of
internally-generated revenue.
``This is
because if the resources do come from our IGR we will do the best that we can
to execute projects and programmes in such a manner that it will be very
impactful on the lives of our people.
“There is no
doubt that despite the fluctuating price of oil, Nigeria still depends a lot on
oil for the purpose of funding its budget both in the oil-producing and non-oil
producing states and the Federal Government.
``As a state we
have tried to be very reasonable with our budget size and I believe that it is
the right thing for us to do because the budget itself is supposed to be a
document in which we have a pact with the people of Delta, so if we have
projections, we must put down those projections that we think are achievable.
"In the
budget we have ensured that some key projects have been provided for which
includes the construction of new technical colleges in all 25 local government
areas in the state because as a government we believe that acquisition of
technical skills will go a long way in equipping our youths to face the
challenges ahead.
``The
completion of all drainage projects as well as road projects will be seen too;
our health sector will also receive more attention as well as other sectors,’’
he said.
The governor
commended members of the legislature for their diligence in ensuring that the
bill was speedily considered saying, “I truly thank Mr Speaker and the House of
Assembly for being very diligent in the course of their duties in handling the
Appropriation Bill.
Earlier,
Oborevwori had while presenting the Bill as passed by the Assembly to the
governor, said that the Bill went through a rigorous process before it was
passed.
He stated that
in passing the budget, the figure was increased to N395.47 billion from N389.19
billion proposed by the governor in the Bill presented on Nov. 6, 2019.
Recurrent expenditure is N172.15 billion and capital expenditure, N223.32
billion.
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