Appropriation Bill: Delta Assembly Adds N6.2bn To 2020 Proposed Budget

The State House of Assembly has passed the Appropriation Bill 2020 with an addition of six billion two hundred and eighty four million naira when compared to the three hundred and eighty-nine billion naira presented to the House by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa .

The passage of the Appropriation Bill 2020 followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere seconded by Hon. Austin Chikezie for the consideration of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations on the bill at a Committee of Supply.

At the Committee of Supply, the House considered the report in line with the proposals made by the Finance and Appropriations Committee Chaired by Honourable Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu.

The House critically scrutinised the various sectors and the amount proposed by the Committee and made necessary amendments .

Having extensively considered the report of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere moved a motion for the Chairman Committee on Supply to resume his seat as Mr Speaker to report progress and was seconded by Hon. Felix Anirah.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori said the House properly scrutinised the recurrent and capital expenditures which increased the initial proposed budget of three hundred and eighty-nine billion naira presented to the House by the governor to three hundred and ninety-five billion, four hundred and seventy-five million naira.

With the addition, the capital expenditure now stands at two hundred and twenty-three billion, three hundred and twenty million naira while the recurrent expenditure is one hundred and seventy-two billion, one hundred and fifty-four million naira.

Thereafter the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere moved a motion for the House to take the third reading and passed the bill which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Innocent Anidi before being adopted.

The Speaker thanked members for the passage of the 2020 Appropriation Bill saying that the timely presentation and passage of the bill would enable government commence timely implementation.

He said; “Dear colleagues, at the Committee of Supply, the year 2020 Appropriation Bill was meticulously scrutinized by members. Relevant contributions and amendments were proposed by Members that were very helpful in the consideration of the Bill. I thank you for a successful Committee of Supply.

“I sincerely thank all of you for a job well done. From the First reading of this Bill to its final Passage, your wealth of knowledge and experience was brought to bear and I thank you. By the timely passage of this Bill, Delta State is on a good start to a new year. This bill will greatly impact the lives of Deltans and will move Delta State forward in terms of infrastructure and human capital development.

“Permit me to also thank His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his well timed presentation of the year 2020 Appropriation Bill in conformation with international best practice.”

Also at plenary, the House received the report of the Joint House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters and the Special Committee on Bill on the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Amendment Bill.

The report was presented to the House by the Chairman House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters, Hon Charles Oniyere.

The House received the report following a motion by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere seconded by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Solomon Ighrakpata.

However the member representing Ughelli South Constituency, Hon Reuben Izeze standing on order 12 rule 81 sought the House to present a minority report which the Speaker insisted that he must come via a motion.

After moving the motion there was no seconder hence the motion did not sail through.