Ikpokpo Presents N3.3 Billion Isoko South 2020 Budget To Legislative Arm ~ Truth Reporters

The Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, Itaiko Ikpokpo, Ksm thursday 9th January 2020 presented a budget estimate of N3,324,050,000 for the 2020 fiscal year to the Isoko South Legislative Arm for consideration and approval.

Ikpokpo at the presentation explained that the budget proposal which is the last in the life of the administration is geared towards accelerating government strategic plans in cardinal areas of Environmental Sanitation, Water Supply, Peace and Security, Primary Healthcare, Agriculture amongst others.

"We are committed to the facelift of public infrastructures around the Local Government Council inline with our adminstrative reform agenda and to create a conducive working environment for staff of the Local Government."

Ikpokpo who thanked Members of the Legislative Arm and the generality of the people of Isoko South for their understanding and support noted that the Local Government since the inception of his adminstration has been faced with the challenge of funding.

"It is important to state that we have indeed faced deep challenges centered mainly on finances. I want to put on record that since 2014 when I was sworn in as Chairman of Council, I and my team have not recorded and I quote, have not recorded any positive funding. Our share from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC have always been negative.

"With the wage bill of the Local Government at about N68 million and that of 1,000 Primary School Teachers, making Isoko South the highest employer of Primary School teachers in Delta State amounting to N130 million which came down to about N98 million with the advent of Biometrics which we initiated, outside statutory deductions for Traditional Rulers 5%, Local Government Service Commission 1%, Accrual right 5% Redemption Bond for LEA, Accrual right 5% Redemption Bond for LGCs, LEA Pension, Isoko South Local Government Council Staff Pension, you will see that if not for the intervention of the State Government by way of augumentation in most cases, it would have been difficult for us to survive as it were."

Recurrent expenditure in the 2020 budget proposal stood at N2,995, 050, 000 while capital spending is put at N329, 000,000.00.

Expected sources of funding for the budget include; Share from the Federation Account,- N2,700,000,000, Share of 10% State IGR,- N80, 000,000, Share from JAAC augumentation-, N400,000,000, Local Government IGR-, N100, 000,000.

The 2020 budget has a deficit of N44, 050, 000.