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*** He Says ; “This will be last Budget I will be presenting to His Excellency, the Governor for assent as a Speaker of the House”

*** “I am already feeling nostalgic even now”, Says Oborevwori

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, on Friday, December 16th, 2022, presented 10 bills passed by the House, including the 2023 Budget to the state Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his assent

According to the Speaker the objectives of the Bills are geared towards the development of the State, saying that the importance of these Bills to the State cannot be over-emphasized.

He said this prompted the House to consider the passage of the Bills with all the attention they deserved.

Rt Hon Oborevwori who is the State PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2023 governorship Election and National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria disclosed that the Delta State Manufacture and Use of Cotonou Boats Bill, 2022, was read first time 15th December, 2021, read second time 25th January, 2022 and read third time and passed 26th January, 2022.

“Your Excellency, the Delta State Manufacture and Use of Cotonou Boats Bill, 2022 when signed into Law will harness the socio-economic benefits of water transportation in the State by regulating the building, fabrication and welding activities of Cotonou Boats. It would also generate employment opportunities in the riverine communities thereby alleviating poverty and restiveness”, he said.

On the Delta State Public Finance Management Bill, 2022, he revealed that it was read first time 13th July, 2021, second reading, 5th October, 2021 and third read and passed 1st March, 2022, saying that; “Your Excellency, the Delta State Public Finance Management Bill, 2022 seeks to regulate the financial management of public funds (Taxes, Fees and other revenues) in the State by ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) follow the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The Bill will not only ensure accurate collection and accounting for all public monies received and expended, but prudence accountability and transparency in the expenditure of public funds. The Bill is also aimed at the application of actual and accrual basis of accounting practice and procedures across board in the State”.

The other Bills are ; the Delta State HIV/AIDs Anti-discrimination, Prevention and Protection Bill, 2022, the Delta State Waterways Tax, Control and Licensing of Boats (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2022, the Delta State Forfeiture of Property Bill, 2022, Delta State Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response Bill, 2020, the Delta State Passenger Welfare Scheme Repeal Bill, 2022, the Delta State Administrative Procedure Bill, 2022, the Delta State Transportation Data Management Bill, 2022 and the Delta State Appropriation Bill, 2023

“Your Excellency, the 2023 Appropriation Bill which is tagged “a budget of seamless and stable transition “was passed after diligent evaluation, consideration and scrutiny by the House. The overriding objective in the passage of the budget is targeted at strengthening the achievements made by this administration since 2015. It will therefore greatly impact the lives of Deltans and consolidate the gains of this government”, the Speaker said.

According to him; “The total proposed Budgetary Estimates presented to the House by Your Excellency was,N561,820,596,524 (Five Hundred and Sixty-One Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira) comprising, N235,208,340,101 (Two Hundred and Thirty-Five Billion, Two Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Forty Thousand, One Hundred and One Naira) as recurrent expenditure and N326,612,256,423 (Three Hundred and Twenty Six Billion, Six Hundred and Twelve Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Three Naira) as capital Expenditure”.

However, he said, “after a careful evaluation, consideration and scrutiny, a total Budget Size of N571,636,910,991 (Five Hundred and Seventy-One Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Ten Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-One Naira) was passed by the House. This is made up of total recurrent expenditure of N235,508,340,101 (Two Hundred and Thirty-Five Billion, Five Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Forty Thousand, One Hundred and One Naira) and capital expenditure of N336,128,570,890 (Three Hundred and Thirty-Six Billion, One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Naira)”.

The Speaker who was emotional during the presentation of the bills, on behalf of the Honourable Members of the House, expressed their profound gratitude to the Governor for the cordial working relationship and synergy existing between the House and the Executive, adding that; “This has not only brought stability to the House but also prosperity to Deltans and development across the State”.

“Your Excellency, God has indeed been gracious to Delta State and the House of Assembly in particular. We have enjoyed peace and harmony which have resulted in the excellent working relationship among the members. As you remarked during the presentation of the 2023 Budget on the floor of the House that this is the last Budget you will be laying before the honourable House, this will also be the last Budget I will be presenting to His Excellency, the Governor for assent as a Speaker of the House. I am already feeling nostalgic even now. May I at this juncture call on the Clerk of the House to present the Bills for your Excellency’s assent, please”, he stated.

In his remarks after signing the Bills, Governor Okowa assured Deltans that the state would strive to implement capital projects embedded in the 2023 Budget as well as endeavour to complete ongoing projects before the end of his tenure.

He commended the House of Assembly for its cooperation over the years, adding that his administration couldn’t have achieved the much it did without the strong support of the Assembly and Deltans.

“To have found time to work through these bills in spite of the electoral campaigns shows that you have stayed committed to our people who voted you into office.

“We will continue to remember you in the course of history because a lot has been done over the past seven and half years during which we have truly impacted on our people.

“We could have done better if we had a better security because we need a secured country for us to be able to impact more meaningfully to the people.

“But under the circumstances we have found ourselves, working with our people we have delivered the dividends of democracy to the best of our ability.

“Until May 28, 2023, we will remain functional and continue to impact on the lives of our people, including the youths to make them get entrepreneurial skills that will ultimately make them self-reliant,” Okowa stated.

On the other Bills signed into law, he said they would contribute to the socio-economic development of the state and thanked the lawnakers for their commitment to duty.