Delta State 2023 Appropriation Bill of five hundred and seventy-one point six billion Naira has been read for the third time and passed on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
The passed financial document saw an increase in the budget size by ten billion Naira the amount presented to it by the Governor.
The state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa had presented a total sum of five hundred and sixty-one point eight billion Naira to the state legislature for the services of the state in the 2023 fiscal year.
Chairman, Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon Ehriateke Ibori-Suen, while presenting the committee’s report, disclosed that the passed budget is made up of two hundred and thirty-five point five billion Naira for recurrent expenditure and three hundred and thirty-six point one billion Naira for capital expenditure.
The breakdown was against the two hundred and thirty-five point five billion Naira for recurrent expenditure and three hundred and twenty six point six billion Naira for capital expenditure, bringing the total to five hundred and sixty one point eight billion Naira presented to the House by the Governor.
Hon Ibori-Suen explained that the increase was to address some critical needs of the state in line with the goals and aspirations of the state government.
The motion for the third reading of the bill and subsequent passage was moved by the Majority Leader, Ferguson Onwo and unanimously adopted.
Addressing members immediately after the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, said the House has once again successfully discharged the key function of authorizing Government expenditures in line with the provisions of Section 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as altered.
He stated that from the presentation of the Appropriation Bill to its final Passage, members worked diligently through the various sub-committees of the Finance and Appropriations Committee to ensure the successful passage of this Bill on time.
The Speaker explained that it was the last Appropriation Bill approved by Seventh Assembly and has no doubt in his mind that the House has done an excellent job.
He noted that he is very confident that the timely passage of the Bill is in line with international best practices, and that Delta State is on a good start to the year 2023.
Oborevwori stated further that he firmly believes that the Bill will greatly impact the lives of Deltans and consolidate on all the great works of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration.
The Speaker paid glowing tributes to Governor Okowa who is the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 general elections, for his well-timed presentation of the year 2023 Budget which has aided the timely passage of the Appropriation Bill.
He also commended the Finance and Appropriations Committee, the Standing Committees of the House, Management and staff of the Assembly for the successful passage of the 2023 Appropriation Bill.
