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Okowa signs 2023 appropriation, nine other bills

By Godwin Ijediogor, Asaba
17 December 2022   |   4:01 am
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, in Asaba, signed the state’s 2023 Appropriation Bill of N571.64billion into law.

[FILES] Ifeanyi Okowa

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, in Asaba, signed the state’s 2023 Appropriation Bill of N571.64billion into law.

The budget, which was his last as governor, comprises N235.5 billion for recurrent expenditure and N336.1 billion capital expenditure.

Okowa also assented nine other bills, including the Delta State Manufacturing and Use of Cotonou Boats Bill; Delta State Public Finance Management Bill; Delta State HIV/AIDS Anti-discrimination, Prevention and Protection Bill; Delta State Waterways Tax, Control and Licensing of Boats (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill for 2022.

Others are Delta State Forfeiture of Property Bill; Delta State Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response Bill; Delta State Passenger Welfare Scheme Repeal Bill; Delta State Administrative Procedure Bill and the Delta State Transportation Data Management Bill.

Speaking after assenting the bills, Okowa assured that the state would strive to implement capital projects embedded in next year’s budget and strive to complete ongoing projects before the end of his tenure.

He commended the House of Assembly for its cooperation over the years, saying his administration could not have achieved the much it did without the support of the Assembly and Deltans.

He said, “To have found time to work through these bills, in spite of the electoral campaigns, shows that you have stayed committed to our people who voted you into office.

“We will continue to remember you in the course of history because a lot has been done over the past seven and half years during which we have truly impacted on our people. We could have done better if we had a better security, as we need a secured country for us to be able to impact more meaningfully to the people.

“But under the circumstances we have found ourselves, working with our people, we have delivered the dividends of democracy to the best of our ability. Until May 28, 2023, we will remain functional and continue to impact on the lives of our people, including the youth, to make them get entrepreneurial skills that will ultimately make them self-reliant.”

On the other bills, he said they would contribute to the socio-economic development of the state, thanking the lawmakers for their commitment to duty.

Presenting the bills earlier, Speaker of the State Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, said they went through all legislative process before being passed.

He expressed appreciation to the governor and members of the Assembly for their support and cooperation over the years he presided as the longest- serving Speaker of the Assembly.

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