From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has signed the 2017 Appropriation Bill of N243.2 billion into law.
Dickson also signed into law the Educational Development Trust Fund Amendment Bill which would further strengthen the fund to meet the expectations of the people.
Assenting to the two bills at Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson said the budget, christened: ‘Budget of repositioning for consolidation’ was aimed at completing various ongoing projects in the state.
The governor, who noted that the government appropriated N111 billion for capital projects, called on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) 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. Dickson, who explained that recurrent expenditures, such as salaries, pensions, gratuities and overhead, would gulp the remaining balance of the budget estimate, assured the government would conform strictly to the budget.
Commending the state workers for their understanding and patience, the governor said the government was working out modalities on the payment of the back log of workers’ salary arrears.
On the Educational Development Trust Fund, Dickson said 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 liaison with the board as well as incorporate representatives of organised labour on the board.
Presenting the bills, House of Assembly Speaker, Benson Konbowei, said of the N243.2 billion, 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.
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.