Delta Assembly passes 2017 Appropriation Bill of N294.4bn

The Delta House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the state’s 2017 Appropriation Bill of N294.4 billion.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had presented budget proposal of 270.9 to the house last November which was increased by about N23 billion.

The passage of the bill followed a report presented by the Chairman of House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Miss Erhiatake Ibori, during the plenary sessaion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that N158billion was approved for Recurrent Expenditure, while the Capital Expenditure had N136.4billion budgeted for it.

Presenting the report, the committee chairman said, “after careful evaluation and consideration of the proposals the committee came up with the budget size of N294.4 billion.

“ The 2017 Appropriation Bill shows an increase of about N23 billion on the initial N270.9 billion budget earlier presented by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa in the month of November,” Ibori said.

She said that the increase was premised on an envisaged increase in the income that would accrue to the state from the federation account owing to the global oil price increase.

“The Senate’s approval of $44.5 per barrel benchmark at N305 exchange rate is also at variance with the state’s $42.5 per barrel benchmark at N297 per dollar exchange rate,” she said.

Ibori said that the budget showed a clear focus and direction of the state government’s overall development of the state.

Consequently, the Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere, moved a motion for the third reading of the bill and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Festus Okoh, befor it was unanimously adopted.

The Speaker, Monday Igbuya, commended the committee for the speedy passage of the bill and directed the Clerk of the House to transmit a copy of it to the governor for his assent.