By Ameachi Prosper
Asaba: Against the poor performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State 2016 budget, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chairman in the State, Chief Oke Idawene has criticised the state government N270.910bn proposed budget for 2017 fiscal year, saying the budget lacks focus and the ingredients that can change the fortunes of citizens in the state.
Idewani who addressed a press conference in his office in Asaba, the state capital recalled that with just 23 percent performance of the 2016 budget, he wondered the rationale behind the increase of 2017 budget to N270.910bn as against that of 2016 N268.179bn with nearly zero performance.
“The question is; how did 2016 budget fed? A budget that was under funded a budget that has about 60 percent recurrent expenditure, a budget that has impoverished Deltans.”
He queried the increase of 2017 under a recession economy even when the 2016 was under funded, noting that it is time for prudent management of resources.
“The proposed 2017 has no leveraged for the moribund economy of Delta. This is a governor who rode to power on the promised of Prosperity for all Deltans yet nothing to show for 2016 budget performance and even increasing the 2017 fiscal year.”
Continuing; “A state like Kano, Lagos and Rivers fund their budget with Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but in Delta the governor wants to fund a budget with Federal Allocation, Vat and other receipts. What is other receipt? Other receipt ought to be in savings. A budget that is funded by other receipt is not a budget.”
