Okowa signs 2017 Delta Appropriation bill into law

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Tuesday signed the 2017 Delta Appropriation bill of N294.4billion into law after it was passed by the State House of Assembly in February.

Newsverge reports that Okowa had in November 2016 sent a budget proposal of N270.9billion to the State House of Assembly, but the lawmakers, however, amended the budget with an increment of N23.5billion.

At a ceremony held at the Executive Chambers, Government House, Asaba, Okowa expressed hope that the 2017 appropriation law would help position the state on the part of economic recovery.

He said his administration would continue to do its best in promoting transparency and good governance, adding that priority attention would be given to construction and reconstruction of roads in the state.

“I must commend members of the state legislature for doing a thorough job in the passage of the 2017 Delta Appropriation bill.

“We are committed to transforming the state for the betterment of our people.

“It is also our hope that finances coming from various sector would improve this year so that we will be able to meet our obligation to the people of the state.

“We will continue to do our best in bringing good governance to our people. We will give priority attention to the construction and reconstruction of roads in the state to open up our rural areas,” Okowa said.

The governor, however, expressed optimism that the state lawmakers would equally give prompt attention to other executive bills before the House.

He said the state government was poised to empower the people of the state through job creation and urged youths in the state to be patient and peaceful.

Okowa said his administration would continue to do its best to impact on the lives of the people of the state, despite the realities of the current economic recession in the country.

He further disclosed that the state government was committed to developing the rural areas of the state, especially the riverine communities to enhance the living condition of the people.

Okowa said: “As a government, we are committed to developing the riverine areas, because the more we have been able to do that, the more we make the areas economic viable for the dwellers.

“So, I want to urge the youths in the riverine areas to be patient and remain peaceful. We are working and will continue to work towards actualizing our our goal for a prosperous Delta state for all.”

Earlier, the Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya, had narrated the contributions of the lawmakers in the successful passage of the 2017 appropriation bill.

He said the House worked tirelessly and collaboratively in the discharge of their legislative obligations.

“When the bill was received in the House in November 2016, we took the first and second reading the same day, before sending it to the committees of the House for their considerations,” Igbuya said.

The speaker, however, pledged the support and cooperation of members of the State House of Assembly in the task of building a prosperous state for all Deltans.