Delta House of Assembly passes N27.5 billion extra budget

• 2018 appropriation bill increases to N336 billion from N308.8 billion
The Delta State House of Assembly has passed a supplementary budget of N27.5 billion for the state government’s services in the 2018 fiscal year. The bill was passed during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, following a report by Vice Chairman, House Committee on Establishments, Ethics, Privileges and House Services, Peter Uviejitobor.

House Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere moved a motion to receive the report and was seconded by Chief Whip, Pat Ajudua. The appropriation amendment bill as passed therefore, increased the 2018 budget from N308.8b to N336.4b.

While recurrent expenditure increased from N147.2b to N164b, capital expenditure grew from N161.6b to N172.4b.Speaking, Owhefere explained that the bill as presented and passed, was aimed at supplementing and reordering specific subheads of the recurrent revenue, personnel cost, overhead cost, consolidated revenue fund charges and capital expenditure.He had moved the motion for the bill titled: Delta State Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2018 and was seconded by representative of Isoko South II,
Johnson Erijo.

Owhefere also moved for suspension of Order 7, rules 77, 78, 79 and 90 of the House rules to enable it read the bill for the second and third time and was seconded by Daniel Mayuku (Warri South West).

Following the adoption of the motion, Owhefere also moved that the bill be read for the third time after it was seconded by representative of Oshimili South, Peter Onwusanya, before it was passed. Oborevwori commended the House for passage of the supplementary bill, saying when signed into law, it would help facilitate the payment of contractors handling various projects across the state, urging them to return to site.

Also, the House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill granting it financial autonomy from the executive.Titled: Delta State House of Assembly (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2018, it would provide for the management of funds accruing to the House from the state’s consolidated revenue fund to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilisation of funds, among others.The House thereafter, constituted a Committee of the Whole to immediately consider the bill, following recommendation by Chairman, House Committee on Business Rules and Legal Matters, Reuben Izeze.