Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, signed the N571.64 billion 2023 Appropriations Bill on Friday in Asaba.
The budget, which Okowa signed as the state’s last governor, includes N336.1 billion in capital expenditures and N235.5 billion in recurring expenses.
The Delta State Manufacturing and Use of Cotonou Boats Bill, 2022; Delta State Public Finance Management Bill, 2022; Delta State HIV/AIDS Anti-discrimination, Prevention and Protection Bill, 2022; and Delta State Waterways Tax, Control and Licensing of Boats (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill, 2022 were among the additional nine bills that the governor signed and assented to.
Other bills include the Delta State Transportation Data Management Bill (2022), the Delta State Administrative Procedure Bill (2022), the Delta State Forfeiture of Property Bill (2022), the Delta State Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response Bill (202020), and the Delta State Passenger Welfare Scheme Repeal Bill (202022).
Okowa told Deltans in his remarks following the signing of the bills that the state will work to accomplish capital projects included in the 2023 Budget as well as work to finish current projects before the end of his term.
He thanked the House of Assembly for its collaboration over the years and added that the Assembly’s and Deltans’ strong support was essential to his administration’s ability to accomplish as much as it accomplished.
“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.
He complimented the lawnmowers for their dedication to duty and commented on the other bills that were passed into law by saying they will help the state’s socioeconomic growth.
The bills went through the whole parliamentary procedure before being enacted, according to Chief Sherrif Oborevwori, the Speaker of the Assembly, who previously presented the bills.
As the Speaker of the House of Assembly with the longest tenure, he expressed gratitude to the Governor and House members for their assistance and support throughout the years.
“I wish to express our profound gratitude to you for the cordial working relationship and synergy existing between the House and the Executive.
“This has not only brought stability to the House but also prosperity to Deltans and development across the State.
“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 of Assembly,” Oborevwori stated.
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