Realignment Bill of 2016 Budget, others Scales Reading at the Delta House of Assembly

BY PATRICK OGBOGU

A bill to make the realignment of the 2016 approved budget legal has scaled the second reading at the Delta State House of Assembly, just as the Delta State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority Law passed second reading, with the State Special Court bill scaling first reading; while the FSP report was adopted

The backing for the realignment of the 2016 approved budget was sequel to a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere, seconded by Hon Samuel Mariere and was invariably adopted by the House.

Hon Owhefere while throwing more light on the importance of the bill, pointed out that the realignment of the bill was a minor amendment, adding that the bill will not affect the total amount that had been approved, but was targeted at infrastructural developments.

Hon Owhefere said rather than allow some to be fallow, some budgets sub-heads should be moved to areas of critical needs in order to enhance the development of the state.

Also speaking in support of the bill, Hon Mariere, Pat Ajuduh; Tonye Timi and Evans Ivwurie lauded Gov Okowa for the move to realign the 2016 approved budget in order to complete ongoing projects in different parts of the state, including the Okpanam road dualization, the Ughelli roads etc.

In their contributions, Hon Angela Nwaka; Dennis Omovie and Alphonsus Ojo observed that despite the paucity of funds the governor was determined to address critical infrastructural needs of Deltans.

The lawmakers said the bill will have a positive impact on the lives of Deltans as it will enable the governor to move dormant funds to areas of critical needs.

The second reading was adopted propelling the Speaker, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya, to refer the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to submit their report on Tuesday next week.

Also at Wednesday plenary, the House adopted the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on Delta State Fisical Strategy Paper FSP 2017-2019.

The adoption of the report was sequel to the presentation of the report by the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon Tonye Timi on behalf of the Chairman, Hon Erihatake Ibori.

Hon Timi while presenting the report said the committee discovered that the FSP was a frame work of the economic and fisical update of both historical and current factors affecting preparation and implementation of the budget.

He said the FSP was the first step in budget preparation process, while the FSP will give projection and indication of income and expenditure for three years.

The lawmaker declared that after a thorough analysis of the document, the committee agreed with projections made by the executive arm of government in order to facilitate its use for the preparation of the 2017 budget and therefore recommended that the document be approved by the House so as to its use for the preparation of the forthcoming 2017 budget.

The Majority Leader, Hon Owhefere moved separate motions for the report to be received for further considerations and adoption which were invariably adopted.

Meantime, the Delta State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority Law passed second reading, while a bill for a law to establish the Delta State Special Offences Court bill to prosecute environmental offenders scaled first reading. The second reading has been slated for Thursday Dec 6, 2016.

The House later adjourned to resume sitting on Thursday.