The Delta State Government strides in the development of critical housing infrastructure across the state has received a boost with a promise of adequate budgetary allocation to the state ministry of housing.
The Chairman, State Assembly Committee on Housing and Women Affairs, Hon Jude Ogbimi gave the assurance when the Committee played host to the Commissioner and top management of the state ministry of housing who were in the Assembly Complex to defend the budget proposals of the ministry for 2022 fiscal year.
The Chairman, Assembly Committee on Housing and Women Development, Hon Jude Ogbimi said the housing sector was key to assessing the performance of any administration and commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the success stories of his administration in that regards.
Hon Ogbimi stated that the development of the new central secretariat complex project with state of the art facilities in Asaba is worthy of mention, saying that the project was second to non in Nigeria.
The Lawmaker assured of the commitment of the committee to ensuring adequate budgetary allocation to the ministry to enable it pursue all the lofty goals in the housing sector.
The Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Chief Festus Ochonogor gave a breakdown of the budget performance of the ministry in 2021 and the proposed target for 2022.
Chief Ochonogor disclosed that 10.850 billion naira is being proposed for 2022 financial year, saying that much focus will be completion of all ongoing projects in the ministry.
In a related development, the State Assembly Committee on Housing and Women Affairs, has assured that government program geared towards youth and women upliftment would remain a top priority in the state.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Jude Ogbimi stated this when the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Flora Alanta, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and other officials appeared before members to defend the ministry’s 2022 budget.
Hon Ogbimi while commending the successes recorded in the ministry in the outgoing year, said there are rooms for improvement and charged the officials to leave up to expectations.
The Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Flora Alanta assured that the ministry will continue to carry out it functions creditably, in line with the commitment of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the upliftment of the vulnerable in the society.
The Assembly Committee on Housing and Women Development also granted the management of DDPA the opportunity to defend the agency’s 2022 budget proposals.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Jude Ogbimi encouraged the officials to up their games by improving on the agency’s budget performance in 2022.