Delta Assembly passes revised 2020 Appropriation Bill ~ Truth Reporters

10 July 2020   |   8:16 am

The revised 2020 Appropriation Bill of the Delta State Government has been read the third time and passed on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

The budget of the state government for the 2020 fiscal year is now N282,331,896,385 (Two hundred and eighty-two billion, three hundred and thirty-one million, eight hundred and ninety-six thousand, three hundred and eighty-five naira). 

The amount as passed by the house is made of N152.5 billion (one hundred and fifty-two point five billion naira) for Recurrent Expenditure and N129.9 billion (one hundred and twenty-nine point nine billion naira) for Capital Expenditure. 

The passage of the revised appropriation bill was sequel to the submission of the report at plenary by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation that was mandated to scrutinise the bill after it passed second reading.

The Deputy Chairman of the Committee and member representing Ika South, Hon Festus Okoh said recommendations were made after intense scrutiny of the amendment bill.

Hon Okoh stated that it was observed that the Budget was designed along guidelines sent to the states from the Federal Government in conjunction with the World Bank.

The Bill was read the third time and passed following a motion to that effect by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere, and unanimously adopted. 

The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori commended members for painstakingly working on the bill and ensuring its immediate consideration.

He assured that the Delta State House of Assembly would continue to show leadership and sustain its synergy with the Executive arm of government to moving the state forward.

The revised budget of the state government for the 2020 fiscal year was forwarded to the State House of Assembly last Tuesday by the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

The Governor said the proposed sum was an upward review of the Budget, recalling that the House had earlier in May this year passed a downward review of the Budget to the sum of N279,784,088,045 (two hundred and seventy-nine billion, seven hundred and eighty-four million, eighty-eight thousand and forty-five naira).

He said the recent development was in compliance with the Federal Government's plan at developing and implementing a nationally responsive integrated policy framework to address the economic distortions caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic.