Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, yesterday, presented a budget of N310.7b for 2022 to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Presenting the appropriation bill tagged: “Budget of sustainable growth,” Diri said the bill put into consideration the yearnings of Bayelsans and prioritized human and capital development.
On the funding of the budget, governor Diri noted that the expected sources of funds would be the 13% oil derivation which is expected to yield N117.3 billion, estimated N43.3 billion from the federal statutory allocation, N43.5 from excess crude oil, N5billion from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and N3.7 billion from SUBEB.
Other estimated revenue sources include: N20 billion from internally generated revenue, NN43.5 billion from loans, N16.2 billion from VAT, N8billion from NIG-CARES, N4billion from RAAMP and an opening ballance of N1.9billion.
The budget estimate indicated that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure is to get a lion share of N51 billion, followed by the Ministry of Agriculture which is to get N12 billion while Education gets N4billion.
Speaking to newsmen after the presentation, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Abraham Ngobere, who spoke through the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mr. Tare Pori said the House would hit the ground running to give the budget estimate an expeditious passage.
The Speaker, however noted that the financial document would be subjected to a painstaking scrutiny to ensure that all grey areas detected are rectified before final passage.
He commended governor Diri for being proactive in the presentation of the to 2022 appropriation bill, adding that interest of Bayelsans would be placed first during hearing of the budget.
