Delta State House of Assembly has approved a budget size of N725 billion for services of the state government for the 2024 fiscal year.
The passed budget is higher than the N714 billion earlier amount presented to the by Sheriff Oborevwori, the state governor.
The third reading of the appropriation bill was sequel to the receipt of the report of the Marylyn Okowa-Daramola-led committee on finance and appropriations at plenary, presided over by Emomotimi Guwor, speaker of the House.
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Presenting the report of the assembly committee on finance and appropriations, Okowa-Daramola, noted that the committee after a careful legislative consideration of the proposed budget, decided to make some slight upward review in line with the contemporary economic realities.
Okowa-Daramola said the approved budget size revealed a significant increase in the proposed capital expenditure from N397.8 billion to N408.3 billion.
On recurrent expenditure, the Lawmaker who represents Ika North East in the House, announced a budget size of N316.6 billion as against the earlier proposed budget envelope of N316.5 billion.
Okowa-Daramola stated that the year 2024 budget belongs to the present time and it’s in line with M.O.R.E agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
She said that the increased figure is aimed at funding some critical sectors of the state including the health sector, works, and urban renewal, among others.
The House, having dissolved itself into a committee on supply as chaired by the speaker, examined the finance and appropriation report as presented clause by clause just as relevant amendments were effected.
The report of the committee was subsequently received following a motion to that effect by Emeka Nwaobi, the majority leader, and adopted.
The lawmakers then suspended relevant sections of the House rules to enable it scrutinise the budget further at the committee on supply, chaired by the speaker.
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At the committee of supply, the lawmakers made further amendments to the appropriation bill, leading to the motion for its third reading and subsequent passage.
The speaker noted that the passage of the bill was in line with the global practice, noting that the implementation of the bill would greatly enhance the overall wellbeing of Deltans
