The Delta State House of Assembly has approved a supplementary budget of N71 billion for the 2023 fiscal year ending December 31.
The Governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa sent a letter to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, including a supplementary budget bill, calling for the necessary legislative action.
The budget bill, which had its first reading on Tuesday, passed after its second and third readings yesterday.
The debate begins on the bill following the suspension of relevant House rules. House Majority Leader Ferguson Onwo, commended Governor Okowa for the proposed bill, noting that the bill was aimed at ensuring the completion of ongoing developmental projects in the state.
Lawmakers separately addressed the importance of the bill at a plenary session chaired by State Assembly, Deputy Speaker Ochor Ochor argued that passage of the bill would help promote infrastructure and capital development in the state.
The members representing Ika North East, Anthony Elekeokwuri, Uvwie; Solomon Ighrakpata, Ughelli South; Rueben Izeze, Aniocha North; Emeka Nwaobi, among others, added that the proposed bill was also aimed at beefing up the welfare of the generality of Deltans.
Governor Okowa said in his letter that the proposed budget for the year ending 3 December 2023 consisted of N5.6 billion in recurrent expenditure and N65.5 billion in capital expenditure.
Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Ochor praised the legislative ingenuity of legislators in passing the bill in his remarks.
cc: Vanguard Ng
