The Delta state Government has approved a budget proposal of N378 billion for 2021 for presentation to the State House of Assembly next week.
Mr Charles Aniagwu, State Commissioner for Information, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Asaba, said it was part of the decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday.
He said that the meeting which was presided over by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa also approved the concessioning of the Asaba Airport for 30 years.
According to Aniagwu, the budget proposal of N378 billion will be made up of N174 billion as recurrent expenditure and N203 billion as capital expenditure.
“The first very important decision that was reached at today’s council meeting is the approval of the draft estimate of 2021 budget of the state.
“A budget of N372 billion was presented by the Economic Planning Ministry for consideration at Council.
“After some adjustments here and there and the need for us to also tackle certain critical infrastructure in the state, the budget was taken up to N378 billion.
“So, that is what is going to be presented to the state House of Assembly.
“Good enough, in that budget, we have about N174 billion and some fractions that will be deployed to recurrent expenditure and the remaining N203 billion and some fractions will be deployed to address critical infrastructure in the state.
“This infrastructure is aimed at strengthening the ‘Stronger Delta Agenda’ of the administration.
An approval was also given for the concessioning of the Asaba International Airport for 30 years as the airport will be developed to meet world class standards”.
He said that the council also mandated the state Boundary Committee to take proactive steps towards addressing inter community and inter state boundary disputes with a view to promoting peace and economic harmony between Delta and Edo states.
Aniagwu added that Council gave approval for the appointment of Ovie Whiskey as the Ovie of Ijerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state and Johnson Ologho as the Odion of Emevor in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner, however, used the opportunity to debunk rumours that the total reconstruction of the pathological building and the upgrade of the clinical facilities of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara was being handled by a relative of the governor for a large amount of money.
He disclosed that the two projects were being handled by two reputable firms to enable the hospital be at par with the ones in developed societies.
On the issue of floods in parts of the state, Aniagwu reiterated that the state government was not going to set up holding camps (Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
He explained that plans were on to mitigate the impact of the floods on citizens through the Ministry of Environment.
He, however, expressed hope that the current economic climate cannot derail the ”Stronger Delta Vision” of Gov. Okowa.
