ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State House of Assembly has received the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations on the 2020 Appropriation Bill proposing an addition of 6 billion naira to the 389 billion naira presented by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the House.
The report was presented by the Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriations, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori .
Hon. Ibori-Suenu said that the Governor presented 389 billion naira proposed 2020 budget to the House with 172 billion naira for recurrent expenditure and 217 billion naira for capital expenditure.
She said that after a careful evaluation of the submissions of the various sub committees and the provisions in the various heads and sub heads the Committee increased the proposed budget size to 395 billion naira.
The lawmaker added that with the increment the recurrent expenditure now stands at 172 billion naira and 223 billion naira for capital expenditure.
Hon. Ibori-Suenu said that her Committee took time to scrutinise the various reports of the sub committees with their recommendations in line with the objectives of the proposed budget such as to achieve fiscal stability and promote accountability through stringent control on non productive expenditure, judicious allocation of resources and cost effectiveness of project delivery.
She said that the Committee took into cognizance the need to continue to pursue health for all Deltans in line with the Universal Health Coverage mandate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The lawmaker noted that the need to increase investments in youth entrepreneurship development programmes as well as technical and vocational education designed to foster a new generation of wealth creators, business leaders and managers also informed the decision of the Committee.
Hon. Ibori-Suenu told the House that the 2020 proposed budget showed a clear cut focus and direction of government for the overall inclusive development of the state if properly driven.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Barr. Tim Kome Owhefere thereafter moved a motion for the House to receive the report for further consideration and was seconded by Hon. Charles Oniyere from Ughelli North 1.
The report of the House on Finance and Appropriations will be considered at the Committee of Supply on Wednesday December 4,2019.
In an interview with Hon. Eriathake Ibori-Suenu said that the proposed budget presented by the governor is a projection which gives an overall view of expectations noting that it is not a concluded document.
Also at plenary the House screened and confirmed the nominee forwarded to the House by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for appointment as the Director General, Delta State Traffic Management Authority, Retired Navy Commander, Samuel Azubuike Idah.
The screening of the nominee followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere and seconded by Hon. Festus Okoh Chukwuyem from Ika South.
Hon. Owhefere who introduced the nominee said that the Retired Navy Commander Idah had served the United States Navy for twenty two years and has experiences in transportation.
He said the nominee was the Director of Operations in DESTMA stressing that aside being a PDP member whose commitment to the Party was not in doubt the nominee had helped the traffic management agency to achieve its mandate.
The Speaker directed the nominee to take a bow in the absence of no question put forth to him by members.
The nominee was confirmed by the house after a motion move by the Majority Leader, and seconded by Hon. Augustine Uroye from Warri South 1.
The Speaker thanked members for the confirmation of the nominee saying that the House had carried out one of its cardinal duties as a legislature.
He said that Section 208 sub section two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended gives the Governor power to appoint and remove any person or Chief Executive in any government agency in the state.
The Speaker also stressed that section 12 sub section one and section 10 sub section three of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority Law 2013 invest powers in the Governor to appoint the Director General subject to the confirmation of the House and the power to remove the Director General.
