Delta assembly defends increase in 2018 budget by N10b

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, has defended the N10 billion increase in the 2018 budget.
Oborevwori explained in Asaba at the weekend that the addition was to accommodate some critical areas that the executive left out.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had on October 19, 2017 presented a budget of N298 billion, which the lawmakers increased to N308 billion before passing it on November 30, 2017.The speaker said the move demonstrated that the state House of Assembly was not a rubber stamp of the executive.

He said: “I respect Okowa for that and I wish other state governors would emulate him. From the records, the passage of the 2018 appropriation bill was painstakingly carried out, having gone through all the legislative processes of lawmaking.”

From the first reading of the bill to the robust debates and passage, it was subjected to scrutiny by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, as well as other standing committees and sub-committees.”

The speaker added that there were some readjustments, which involved the movement of funds from some heads to areas of more critical needs.He stressed that the sessions and annexures were critically analysed, while the amendments were effected by majority votes. 

“In all these processes, there was no single interference by the governor. He allowed us to do our work, while performing his own as the state chief executive,” he said.He commended the lawmakers for their renewed dedication to duty, since he assumed the leadership of the House.

Oborevwori assured that the legislature would continue to be on the same page with all critical stakeholders to grow the state.
He urged every Delta resident to close ranks to move the state forward, adding that the governor has been prudent in the management of the state’s resources.

While commending Okowa for navigating through the troubled times to keep the state running, he added that recession had affected all segments of the country.

“He paid salaries up-to-date and embarked on projects across the state. He is very experienced in governance and administration. Forget about the blackmail, which although sad, but is the bad side of politics,” he said.

Oborevwori urged support for the country’s democracy, expressing optimism that the upcoming local council election would be peaceful and credible.