Delta Assembly ratifies N450.7bn for 2014 budget

By The Citizen

The Delta State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, passed the state's 2014 Appropriations Bill by increasing it with N59 billion from what Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan earlier presented, bringing the total sum passed to N450.7 billion.

The state's budget as passed is made up of N162 billion representing 36 percent as recurrent expenditure, while N289 billion, representing 64 percent as capital vote.

The Chairman of Finance and Appropriations Committee of the House, Mr. Daniel Mayuku, later explained to reporters that 'the increase is to enable better completion of ongoing capital projects in the state as this is the last full year budget of the current administration. If this administration must finish strong, then ongoing capital projects must be better funded.'

Uduaghan had presented a N391.51 billion budget proposal for the 2014 fiscal year, comprising N159.78 billion or 48.8 per cent for recurrent expenditure and N231.72 billion or 59.1 per cent for capital expenditure.