DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has presented a N391.51 (three
hundred and ninety one billion, five hundred and ten million naira) budget
proposal for the 2014 fiscal year to the state Legislature with an
assurance that his administration will finish strong.
Tagged, budget of “Consolidation, Sustainable Economic Growth And
Development,” Governor Uduaghan disclosed that the amount “comprises
N159.78 billion (one hundred and fifty nine billion, seven hundred and
eighty million naira) or 48.8 per cent for recurrent expenditure and
N231.72 billion (two hundred and thirty one billion, seven hundred and
twenty million naira) or 59.1 per cent for capital expenditures.”
The Governor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN),
the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief
Peter Nwaoboshi and top government functionaries to the House of Assembly
complex for the budget presentation stated that the budget was designed to
sustain the drive towards the Delta State beyond oil initiatives.
According to him, “the main focus of year 2014 budget is to sustain the
drive towards Delta State beyond oil initiative; we have in this respect
put together a budget and business plan with the objectives and priorities
we set out in the three point agenda.”
“Emphasis in 2014 shall be on the completion of ongoing key projects given
the size of carryover projects,” the Governor said, adding, “this is a
result oriented strategy, wherein an allocation to budget heads are tied
to performing projects and programmes that can sustain development.”
It is worthy to note that a budget of N472.006 billion (four hundred and
seventy two billion, six million naira) with a recurrent expenditure of
N156.403 billion (one hundred and fifty six billion, four hundred and
three million naira) and a capital budget of N315.602 billion (three
hundred and fifteen billion, six hundred and two million naira) was
approved for the 2013 fiscal year.
“I want to restate our very strong desire to finish strong and with 2014
being the last full year of this administration in office, Deltans are
desirous that the promises and hopes we have raised should be kept,” the
Governor said, reiterating, “we are determined that it should be so.”
He added, “I believe we will finish strong because we have to a large
extent restored public confidence in government, we have created credible
institutions of governance, we have enacted friendly and conducive
environment for anyone to fulfil their God given potentials, this has
given our people hope of bright and happy future.”
The Governor assured Deltans that his administration will act competently
and ensure that public finances are managed in the best possible way,
noting, “our people expect at all times good judgement and discretion from
the government it elected and none of us can rest or sleep peacefully
until economic uncertainty, unemployment and poverty are tackled.”
“The new vision today is ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ and this is gradually sinking
into the hearts and minds of all Nigerians, the song now is ‘Nigeria
Beyond Oil’ and we should be proud that Delta State set the pace for this
nation to look beyond oil,” the Governor said.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei
thanked Governor Uduaghan for the timely presentation of the budget and
assured that the Legislature would give deserved attention to the budget
proposal.