Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has signed the 2017
Appropriation Budget of N243.2 billion and the Educational Development
Trust Fund Amendment Bills into law.
Assenting to the two bills in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor
Dickson said the budget, which is christened, “Budget of repositioning
for Consolidation” was aimed at completing various on-going projects
in the state.
The Governor, who noted that, the government appropriated N111 billion
for capital projects alone, called on ministries, departments and
agencies to ensure strict implementation of the budget and fast track
the processes of award of contracts, as his administration was
committed to completing most of the projects and programmes this year.
Governor Dickson, who explained that reccurrent expenditures such as
salaries, pensions, gratuities and overhead would gulp the remaining
balance of the budget estimate, assured that, the government would
conform strictly to the budget.
While commending workers in the state for their understanding and
patience, he said the government was working out modalities on the
payment of the back log of salary arrears owed workers, last year.
On the Educational Development Trust Fund, Governor Dickson explained
that, certain aspects of the law needed to be amended to include,
elevation of the qualification of the secretary of the board to the
level of a Director in the public service.
According to him, the secretary is expected to provide international
laision with the board as well as incorporate representatives of
organized labour on the board.
Presenting the bills, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.
Benson Konbowei said out of the N243.2 billion, total personnel
expenditure, including gratuities and pensions came up to N52.5
billion.
He also noted that, consolidated revenue funds stood at N14 million,
bringing the total to N66.7 billion.
Rt. Hon. Konbowei announced N40.8 billion as overhead costs, while N24
billion would be spent as Cash on Transfer, COT, Value Added Tax, VAT
deductions and other financial consultancy services.
He said N88. 1 billion would be expended for capital expenditure while
other aspects of capital project funds is N23 billion, bringing the
total to over N111 billion.