DELTA 2024 APPROPRIATION BILL PASSES SECOND READING, NOW AT COMMITTEE STAGE

The 2024 Delta State Appropriation Bill, now before the State House of Assembly for consideration, has passed the second reading. 

The Bill seeks to make provision for a law to enable the state government to spent N714. 4 billion for its services in the 2024 fiscal year.

The Appropriation Bill was read the second time a day after it was laid before the Lawmakers at the hallowed chamber of the State Legislature by Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, after his first budget presentation as Governor of Delta state.

In line with the Governor’s social contract with the people, the proposed financial law, christened “Budget of Hope and Optimism” is made up of N316.6 billion, representing 44 percent of the total budget for recurrent expenditure and N397.9 billion, representing 56 per cent of the total budget for capital expenditure.

Leading the debate on the bill during Thursday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Emomotimi Guwor, House Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, said Delta state had been positioned on the road map for accelerated and uncommon socio-economic transformation by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who had during his electioneering campaigns promised Deltans MORE.

Nwaobi explained that besides consolidating the achievements of the immediate past administration in the state, every sector of the state’s economy was captured in the budget to stimulate accelerated development and growth in the state.

He said funding of the budget would not pose any challenge as revenue sources were articulated and highlighted in the appropriation bill, stressing that prudent implementation and financial discipline, as envisioned in the financial document, would further strengthen public confidence and support for the PDP led government in Delta state.

The Majority Leader, along side the Deputy Speaker, Arthur Akpowhowho, member representing Bomadi Constituency, Oboro Preyor and his counterpart of Warri South One, Austin Uroye, maintained that the 2024 proposed budget was geared towards restoring hope to Deltans, alleviating poverty and encouraging steady growth in every sector of the economy, including the non-oil sector.

Others in their separate submissions, described provisions in the proposed budget as vision driven geared towards speedy development and well defined economic reforms.

They said the proposed financial law would curb wastage in governance as it was drafted to strategically identify key areas of needs that would promote efficiency, enhance quality of lives and infrastructure, as well as alleviate poverty in the state.

The Lawmakers, who were unanimous in asking for speedy conclusion of legislative process on the appropriation bill, also agreed that the 2024 proposed budget contained fundamental elements for development, emphasizing that the assumptions were real and projections achievable.

They, however, stressed the need to walk the talk, especially in the areas of prudence and fiscal discipline, pointing out that successful implementation of the 2024 budget would position the state for an astronomical increase in productivity and uncommon achievements.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, commended the Lawmakers for their robust debate on the appropriation bill, saying that they had again proven their commitment to the growth and development of the state.

The Speaker then referred the Bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, with all other Standing Committees as sub committees to report back to the House on Wednesday 13th  December 2023.