Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and Speaker, Delta State House of Assemley, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, during the presentation ceremony at the Cambers of the State House of Assembly in Asaba
ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has presented a budget estimate of N298.078 Billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, assuring of his administration’s commitment to “build a State anchored on inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.”
Governor Okowa who was accompanied by top aides, disclosed that the “amount comprises the sum of N147.5bn or 49.48 per cent for recurrent expenditure, and N150.5 or 50.52 per cent for capital expenditure.”
While presenting a review of the 2017 budget performance from January to September, Governor Okowa said the expenditure profile “shows that the total sum of N127.0 Billion was spent; out of which, the sum of N104.2 Bilion was incurred on recurrent items, as against a proportionate approved budget of N118.5 Billion, representing a budget performance of 87.97 per cent.”
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, presenting the 2018 appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly today in Asaba
“The 2018 budget proposal shows an increase of N3.62 Billion or 1.21 per cent, compared to the 2017 approved budget of N294.4Billion,” the Governor said, adding that it was expected that the sum of N71.3 Billion would be generated internally (IGR), Statutory allocation including Mineral Revenue Derivable – N178.1 Billion, Value Added Tax – N10.7 Billion, other capital receipts – N37.8 Billion totalling N298.0878 Billion to finance the projected budget for 2018 fiscal year.
From the budget proposal, road infrastructure will gulp the greater chunk of the money as Governor Okowa asserted, “in line with our growth aspirations, the sum of N49.3 Billion is earmarked in the proposed 2018 budget to sustain the current momentum in road infrastructure, including drains,” followed by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) which will take N28 Billion from the presented budget for the 2018 fiscal year.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborovweri who presided at the plenary attended by the legislators and former Speakers of the legislature called for a motion to admit the Governor and his aides into the chamber.
The Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi moved the vote of thanks and commended Governor Okowa for his steadfastness in budget execution, reiterating that the Governor presented the 2017 Appropriation Bill which passed through due process before it was signed into law and the Governor as a law abiding citizen implemented the budget despite the economic situation of the country.
To Spend N18 Billion on Education Infrastructure
The Governor during the budget presentation has said that more than N18 Billion would be spent on education sub-sector in 2018.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (middle); Speaker, Delta State House of Assemley, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (2nd left); his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi (2nd right); Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere (right) and Hon. Pat Ajudua, during the presentation ceremony at the Cambers of the State House of Assembly in Asaba
The Governor dropped the hint today, October 19 2017 in Asaba while presenting a budget estimate of N298.078 Billion to the Delta State House of Assembly for the 2018 fiscal year.
Christened, “Budget of Hope and Consolidation,” Governor Okowa said, “Delta State has 1,021 primary and 469 secondary schools with 443,813 pupils and 332,760 students respectively.
The Governor disclosed that several of these schools have been renovated, furnished and new ones built and between SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board) and Ministry of Basic Education, Government has so far spent in excess of N16 Billion in this respect.”
“In the 2018 fiscal year, the sum N18.7 Billion is allocated to the education sub-sector for capital projects,” he said,
“Upon assumption of office, we formulated a technical and vocational oriented education policy with the objectives of boosting literacy, expanding quality education and developing skilled human resources; arising from the intervention in the Technical and Vocational Education and Agricultural Training (TVEAT) institutions, student enrolment has increased by 22 per cent while pass rate in Technical Subjects has improved by 59 per cent.” He said.
Okowa continued, “the six technical colleges in the State have been repositioned to deliver teaching and learning innovation to prepare the products for leadership and business success, this administration has also embarked on massive infrastructural upgrade of facilities across selected public primary and post-primary schools in the State.”
From right; Commissioner for Water Resources, Sir Fidelis Tilije; Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye and Directorate of Youth Development, Hon. Asupa Forteta, during the presentation ceremony at the Cambers of the State House of Assembly in Asaba
“So far, we have constructed a total of 560 classrooms and renovated another 599 and within the same period, a total of 59, 267 classroom furniture and 7, 884 teachers’ furniture were provided by this administration; in addition, we have completed the infrastructural upgrades in four model secondary schools namely; Ogbemudein College, Agbor; Owa Model College, Boji Boji Owa; Alema College, Abigborodo, Warri; and Burutu College, Burutu, while work is currently going on at Government Secondary School, Ughelli (Former St. Theresa); Emore College, Oleh; Ashaka Mixed Secondary School, Ashaka; Ogini Grammar School, Ogharefe,” the Governor said, reiterating, “to increase access to quality and functional basic and secondary education, we have considered and approved the establishment of twenty five (25) new schools comprising eight primary and seventeen post primary schools; for quality assurance, we have also undertaken a complete review of books for the secondary school system for improved curriculum delivery.”
Earmarks N6.6 Billion for Health Sector
…..Boosts Health Insurance with 1 billion Naira
TO ensure that Deltans have access to quality and affordable healthcare, Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said, his administration has earmarked the sum of 6.6 billion naira to consolidate the ongoing rehabilitation of the health facilities.
It has also set aside 1 billion naira to augment the contributory health insurance scheme.especially the Under-5 and Free Maternal Health Care Scheme.
The Governor made the disclosure while presenting a budget christened “Budget of Hope and Consolidation,” to the Delta State House of Assembly.
While stating that the sum of N6.6 Billion would be spent in the health sub-sector, the Governor reiterated, “our guiding philosophy for this sector is the establishment of a qualitative, affordable and accessible health care delivery system in the State; hence we are focusing on infrastructural development of our hospitals and primary health care centres, as well as the procurement of drugs and cutting edge medical equipment in major health care facilities across the three Senatorial Districts.”
“The Free Maternal and the Free Under-Five Healthcare programmes that were initiated by the previous administration in 2007 and 2010 respectively, are still being implemented. In January 2017, the financing of these programmes was taken over by the Delta State Contributory Health Commission. As at July 2017, total enrolment of these categories of people in the scheme stood at 71,350 (under 5 – 44,445; maternal – 26,905). Registration of civil servants under the scheme has commenced and is currently in progress. Sustaining the Free Maternal and the Free Under-Five Healthcare programmes has been critical in ensuring that the maternal mortality ratio and under-five mortality in the State remain the lowest in the country,” he said.
From right; Secretary to State Government, Hon. Ovie Agas; Commissioner for Finance, Olorogun David Edevbie and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Kingsley Emu, during the presentation ceremony at the Cambers of the State House of Assembly in Asaba.
Senator Okowa emphasised that, “in fulfillment of our pledge to deliver accessible, affordable and qualitative healthcare, the Delta State Contributory Health Commission was established in 2016; with just N7, 000 as premium, the health insurance scheme is already providing pre-paid health services to 112,169 registered enrolees; the scheme is currently functional in 63 secondary healthcare centres, while 97 primary healthcare facilities in the State have been designated to commence provision of services under the scheme.”
“The Delta State Health Insurance Scheme has kicked off and its cardinal objective is to give Deltans access to quality and affordable healthcare no matter their socio-economic status; the sum of N1.2 Billion is provided for the Commission’s activities during the 2018 fiscal year.”
He said, “we have infused vigour and vitality into the teaching hospital at Oghara with critical personnel changes and the overhauling of the MRI and CT scan facilities that are now functional. In addition, we have instituted Public-Private Partnership for some diagnostic services to ensure sustainability, and a grant of N142m was released to the institution to meet pressing needs. Infrastructural work at the Asaba Central Hospital has continued to receive priority attention from this administration and is now almost 70 per cent completed.”
On the issue of environment, Governor Okowa that his administration would respond adequately to environmental challenges facing the state, saying, “this administration has embarked on urban renewal in key towns and cities across the state which involves rehabilitation, reconstruction, and construction of new roads, clearing of drains, environmental sanitation, public water supply, and beautification in the form of leisure parks and gardens.”
“The sum of N2.2 billion is proposed for the Ministries of Environment and Urban Renewal in the proposed 2018 capital budget,” the Governor said, assuring, “we are committed to the rapid development of the Delta State Capital Territory in line with the Master Plan of the State Capital territory and we have observed that some parts of the state capital territory currently stand the risk of degenerating into urban slums because of the uncoordinated approach to housing development.”
He stated, “the population explosion being witnessed in Asaba is occasioned by influx of people from neighbouring states; with better town planning and visionary leadership, this growth in population can be turned into financial prosperity that benefits all; the sum of N3 Billion has been proposed for the activities of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency in the 2018 fiscal year.”
