By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator. Douye Diri , on Thursday, presented a N689.44 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly christened ‘
Budget of ASSURED Prosperity, for consideration and approval.
While presenting the details of the proposed budget at the assembly complex in Yenagoa, Diri noted that, implementing the 2025 budget would require some level of efficiency and synergy in government activities across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Diri said the budget is made up of
projected overhead cost of N79.650 billion representing 11.55% with total recurrent expenditure at N263,375 billion representing 38.2% and total capital expenditure of N426,065 billion representing 61.8%.
The state’s helmsman, who gave the projected revenue breakdown, announced statutory allocation of N17 billion, value added tax N57 billion, 13% derivation including refund N138.8 billion, and refund on excess crude N29.062 billion.
Diri also put exchange gains at N103.073 billion, internally generated revenue N39 billion, grants N39.4 billion while other capital receipts such as electronic money transfer, signature bonus, cash calls, loans among other items were projected at N141.4billion, bringing the total receipts to ₦689,440,348,916.30
According to the governor, the breakdown of total expenditure for 2025 comprises of personnel cost of N91.961 billion, pensions and gratuity including contributory pension of N19.324 billion, CRFC transfers N3,346,460,935 bringing the total personnel cost to N108.338 billion representing 13.3%.
The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure got the highest allocation of N178.761 billion, followed by education with N47.111billion while sports was allotted N37.850 billion, which included the construction of a new stadium.
The health sector got N19.994 billion, security was allocated N19 billion, agriculture N16 billion, and energy and power got N14.450 billion.
Also, urban and housing development was allotted N13.680 billion while N10 billion was earmarked for the Ministry of Community Development.
Diri said the amount budgeted for the Works and Infrastructure Ministry was to facilitate construction of the Nembe-Brass, Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie, Ogu–Ayama–Okodi, Sabagreia-Polaku, Toru-Orua-Bolou-Orua-Kabeama-Ebeni road projects, internal roads as well as an ultra-modern state secretariat among other projects.
He said, “In tandem with our promise to connect all the local government headquarters by road, we have continued with construction of the senatorial roads.
“The 21km first phase of the Nembe-Brass road with 10 bridges is progressing as planned and has reached an advanced stage. I am pleased to report that the 620m Angiama-Oporoma bridge is over 50% completed. While waiting for the engineering timelines for the bridge, we have gone ahead with the construction work to Otuan and Oporoma communities across the River Nun.
“We have also started the Glory Drive Phase 3 that will link Imgbi Road with a bridge crossing the Epie Creek. Similarly, the Commissioners’ and Legislators’ quarters and connecting roads within the New Yenagoa City are near completion.”
In the education sector, he said it was government’s intention to increase students’ intake into technical, vocational and science-based schools and reduce the over-reliance on paper qualification, which necessitated the continuous building of technical colleges in the local government areas.
“We have ensured that all programmes in our tertiary institutions are fully accredited. We have also increased grants to our tertiary institutions to meet with the existing realities.
“It is worthy of note that the contractor for the NDU (Niger Delta University) 10,000-seat convocation arena has been mobilized to site.
“We have continued to place the welfare of workers as top priority. In this outgoing year, we have also met the welfare obligation for serving and retired civil servants, and we shall not relent on it. A new minimum wage of N80,000 has been approved, effective November 1, 2024. We have also provided the sum of seven billion naira for the payment of outstanding gratuities and also increased the monthly pensions forthwith.”
Earlier, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, commended the governor for the prompt presentation of the budget proposal and assured that the lawmakers would scrutinize and ensure its speedy passage.
The Speaker equally commended Senator Diri for the transparent handling of the state’s resources and the fair distribution of projects in communities across the state.
