Delta State Executive Council approved N714.4 billion proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
Commissioner for Economics Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen made this known to journalists during a press briefing immediately
after the post-EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday at the Government House, Asaba.
Ekadeyan who was joined by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, said the proposed 2024 budget is centered on improving the welfare of the people.
He said the budget consists of N397 billion representing 56 percent of Capital Expenditure, while N316 billion represents 44 percent of recurrent expenditure.
In his words, he said “We just finished the state EXCO presided of by the Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. The major discussion was on the 2024 proposed budget.
“The budget size is N714.4 billion, broken down into capital and recurrent components of N397 billion capital, representing 56 percent, while the recurrent component is N316 billion, representing 44 percent.
“The budget was premised on the vision of the present administration and encompassing largely the activities and programs that will drive the M.O.R.E agenda.
“It is still a proposition because the House of Assembly will still have to look at it and approve it at a later date. However, broadly speaking, it’s a budget that the people will be happy and proud of because a lot of impactful and developmental projects will be embarked upon.
“The people should expect new townships and massive road infrastructures, with emphasis on quality; people should also expect some new expansions in the healthcare institutions we have in the state.”
He indicated that the state government would continue to fund small businesses across the state in 2024, saying; “we should also expect the government to support the small and medium scale enterprises in the state with some kind of funds to support their businesses, which would be given at single digit interest rate.
“Looking at other things, agriculture will get a boost, such as rice and food crop production. We are hoping that one of the ways to fight the ravaging inflation is to make food available. So, the Agric Ministry will be on its feet. Like I said, it’s a people’s budget”.
