Delta State House of Assembly, Thursday continued scrutiny of the 2024 Appropriation Bill with more Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, appearing before the Standing committees to defend their budget proposals.
The engagement with the MDAs is part of the oversight functions of the Lawmakers as the House targeting passing the Appropriation bill before the end of the year.
The Assembly Committee on Education in its resolved for steady growth and development of the education sector in the state, met with the Chief Executives of all the Tertiary Institutions across the state.
They include, the management of the four universities in the state, located at Abraka, Agbor, Ozoro and Anwai-Asaba, the three Polytechnics at Otefe-Oghara, Ogwashi Uku and Burutu, the Colleges of Education in Warri and Mosogaras well as School of Health Technology in Ufuoma, Ughelli North local government area.
The Chairman of the Committee, Charles Emetulu said the growing needs for education in the state accounted for the huge budgetary allocation to the education sector by the state government.
Emetulu who represents, Ndokwa West Constituency in the House, assured that his led committee would continue to partner with critical stakeholders in the sector to promoting quality infrastructure and academic excellence in the state‘s tertiary institutions.
He charged the Commissioner for Higher Education, who led the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of the various institutions as well as the officials of the Ministry for the Budget defence session to ensure standards in the institutions.
The House Committee on Warri, Uvwie and Environs Area Development Agency led by the member representing Ndokwa East and Deputy Majority Whip of the House, Hon Emeka Osamota, sat for hours at the State Assembly Complex to scrutinize the proposed budget estimate for the Agency.
The Committee Chairman, Hon Emeka Osamota assured the management of the Agency that the State Assembly is interested in restoring the lost glory of Warri.
The Lawmaker maintained that the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori was determined to building a new Warri city, stressing that the Committee is on same page with the Governor in that dream and will support him to succeed.
Asamota said the Warri, Uvwie and Environs Area Development Agency is key to realizing the dream, hence the need for good budgetary allocation to the agency.
The Lawmaker stated that the budgetary provision made by the Economic Planning was inadequate and promised that the committee would request for an upward review of the budget allocation for agency in the 2024 fiscal year.
He said “in line with Government’s vision towards giving Warri and its environs a facelift, N8Billion cap for the agency in the 2024 fiscal year is grossly insufficient.
Hon. Osamuta promised to liaise with relevant stakeholders towards ensuring that the budget proposal is beefed up significantly to meet the contemporary demands and vision of the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori in giving Warri and environs some facelifts.
He said, “What you have here is a far cry from what you need to succeed as an agency.. We will make case for increment in your proposal where necessary” Hon. Osamuta promised.
Earlier in his presentation, the Director-General of the Agency, Hon. Prince Godwin Ejinyere told the committee that the agency is proposing the sum of N8Billion for the agency in 2024 fiscal year.
The sum according to Ejinyere would be expended for the construction of new roads in Warri, Uvwie and Environs, construction of storm water discharge channels and erosion control measures in the area.
Also, the Director General hinted that part of the sum would be channelled towards the payment for ongoing projects in the area.
Chief Eyinyere who commended the Lawmakers for their assurances to support the agency to succeed, also appealed for collaboration of other stakeholders.
In a related development, the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Energy has stressed the need for improved power supply in the state.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Frank Esenwah stated this when the state Commissioner for Energy, Mr Jerry Ehiwario, led official of the ministry to defend their 2024 budget proposals.
Hon Esenwah who represents Oshimili North Constituency, said energy is key to development and assured of the State Assembly’s support towards enhancing productivity in the sector in 2024.
The Lawmaker and some other members of the Committee who spoke during the session, charged the officials to always do needs assessment before embarking on any project in the state.
The Commissioner for Energy, Mr Ehiwario, told the Committee members that the Ministry of Energy in the state is poised to change the narratives for better in 2024.
Ehiwario who highlighted the performance of the ministry in the outgoing year 2023, appealed for required budget provisions to enable it and parastatal under it supervision achieve the best for the people and government of Delta State.
The Energy Commissioner commended the support of the Lawmakers.