By Emmanuel Abi Couson
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Wednesday, in Asaba, raised the prospects of enhanced overall development of the state as he assented to the state’s 2025 Appropriation Bill of N979,228,818,719 billion.
The approved budget is made up of N630.461 billion as capital expenditure, while N349.767 billion is for recurrent expenditure.
While signing the budget tagged “Budget of Fiscal Consolidation” into law, Governor Oborevwori said the 2025 budget was geared towards consolidating on the many projects of his administration.
He said: “It is with immense joy that I have assented to this law christened ‘Budget of Fiscal Consolidation’ 20 days after its presentation to the Delta State House of Assembly.
“My joy is also for its prompt passage after going through the necessary legislative procedures. The increase in capital and decrease in recurrent expenditure over the 2024 estimates also gives me joy.
“We are now imbibing the culture where our budgetary estimates meet global best practices. A prompt passage and assent to this bill allows us to conveniently implement projects during the 2025 dry season.
“The budget has been drafted in such a manner that it will impact positively in the promotion and preservation of public trust and our well being.
“This reaffirms our commitment in advancing Delta State through the prompt and qualitative service delivery as enshrined in our MORE Agenda.”
On the Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Establishment Amendment Law 2024, Governor Oborevwori said: “Before now, with the name University of Science and Technology, we cannot accredit all courses. But now, assenting to the bill, the name is now Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
“The change in name will enable the accreditation of more courses and increase the intake of students into the university.”
Other bills assented to are the Delta State Structures and Signage and Advertisement Bill 2024; Delta State Human Trafficking Prohibition Law 2024; Special Cases Court Amendment Law 2024 and the Delta State Protection of Persons with Disability Law 2023.
The Governor, while thanking the State Legislature for the speedy passage of the bills, assured Deltans of more infrastructural and human capital development in the 2025 fiscal year.
He added: “As the year 2024 winds up, let me express my appreciation for the support I have received from all arms of the Government. It is my sincere expectation that we will sustain this collaboration and synergy in 2025.
“I also want to appreciate Deltans for the love and support they have shown to this administration, for the peace we are enjoying and for the progress that we have achieved.
“For running this state for months without borrowing, it shows that we are very disciplined in our finances. We have been managing our resources very well and we are not going to borrow for now.
“What we have as a reserve can withstand any economic shock. We are very confident as a state and we are paying contractors and even mobilizing them.
“We are doing that to encourage the contractors to have speed in their works because we are not too stable economically. We don’t know how it will be tomorrow and I want to assure Deltans that we will continue to move Delta State forward.”
Presenting the Appropriation Bill, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, said that the Bill was presented to the House on November 14 and passed on November 26 after passing through all legislative processes.
The Speaker said the House took cognisance of some objectives that underlined the 2025 Appropriation Bill which included the completion of ongoing projects and the addition of new projects; expansion of the revenue base; enhancing transparency and accountability in public expenditure management; and initiatives to cushion the economic challenges confronting the people.
Guwor said the House also took special note of proposed allocations to fund activities across different priority sectors including Agriculture, Health, Water Resources, Education and Roads.
