By Eugene Ndidi
Hon. (Pastor) Oghenedoro Nelson Owoso, the Executive Chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Council, has presented the 2024 draft budget estimate to the Ethiope West Local Government Legislative Arm.
The budget estimate of Seven Billion, Two Hundred and Eight Million, Six Hundred and Sixty-nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and One Naira, Eighty-seven Kobo (N7,208,669,901.87k) was presented by Hon. Owoso to the House for consideration, and passage during its plenary of Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
The amount represents an increase of 23.7% over the sum of Five Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-eight Million, Eighty-one Thousand, Nine Hundred and Four Naira, Nine Kobo (N5,498,081,904.09k), budgeted for the 2023 fiscal year.
While making the presentation, the Ethiope West Council boss said that the budget tagged “Budget of Sustainable Development”, is designed to improve the socio-economic growth and development of the local government area as well as increase security coverage, and provision of more social amenities to the people in fulfillment of his administration’s electoral promises, through the completion of all ongoing projects, to create a peaceful society and improve the standard of living within the Local Government.
He noted that it was carefully put together in line with the present socio-economic challenges and MORE Agenda of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration
The chairman of Ethiope East Council informed the Councillors that the local government is expected to fund the 2024 budget from the following sources:
(a) Government Share of FAAC (Statutory Allocation) N4,342,502,748.89
(b) Share of VAT N1,840,733,152.98
(c) SURE – P N500,000,000.00
(d) 10% IGR (State Allocation) N450,000,000.00
(e) Total revenue from external sources N7,133,235,901.87
(f) Independent Fund (IGR) N75,434,000.00
He emphasized that the capital expenditure outlay is for the local government to sustain its empowerment programme through Agriculture, and skills acquisition, improve the quality of human health, provide improved primary education, through the construction, and rehabilitation of primary school facilities, reduce environmental degradation through erosion control, and effective waste management system across the Local Government Area, as well as the enhancement of improved security coverage.
Hon. Owoso explained that the huge recurrent expenditure proposal is occasioned by the rising cost of goods and services in the country on the one hand, and the huge provision made for the repayment of loans required at the State level to pay Local Government Council and Local Education Authority Pensioners.
Earlier, the Ethiope West Local Government Council Chairman intimated the Council’s Legislative Arm of the budget performance of the previous year 2023, which he noted was very good based on the significant improvement in revenue generation, and receipt from external sources.
He stated that revenues generated, and received during the year under review were judiciously utilized to cater for recurrent expenditure, and to execute various people-oriented projects across the local government area.
Some of the projects budgeted for, and executed according to him include:
(a) Provision of Starter packs to graduates of the first phase of the EWVESA Programme, empowerment of Traders and Farmers in the Local Government Area as well as the commencement of the Phase 2 of the EWVESA Programme, which is a Pet Programme of his administration.
(b) Design, and hosting of a functional website for the Local Government.
(c) Rehabilitation/installation of solar power water reticulation of pipe borne water at Ugbomoja Waterside, and Okuodibo communities.
(d) Rehabilitation of failed portions of roads at Oguedion, and Ugbomoja in-land junction.
(e) Grading of earth roads within the Local Government Area.
(f) Completion, and furnishing of the Local Government Day Care and Nursery School.
(g) Purchase of official vehicles for the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Treasurer to the Local Government (TLG), and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
(h). Rehabilitation/Beautification of Local Government Secretariat, and the Legislative building.
(I) Rehabilitation of failed portion of roads in Jesse, and environment.
(j) Purchase, and distribution of 50,000 copies of exercise books to primary schools in the Local Government Area.
(k) Beautification of major roads through routine environmental sanitation exercises, and planting of ornamental trees along major roads in Jesse and Oghar.
Hon. Owoso, thanked the Councillors for their unalloyed support that he and his executive enjoyed throughout their tenure in office, urging them to expedite action in the passage of the 2024 draft budget estimate.
Responding, the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Henry Eghwubare assured the council chairman that the House would expedite action on the reading and passage of the budget, considering that they had barely a few weeks left in office.
