Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has presented a 2024  budget proposal of three hundred and twenty Five Point three  Billion naira before the Edo State House of Assembly.

Governor Goodwin Obaseki says the budget estimates will help consolidate his achievements over the last seven years.

 

The budget tagged 'Home Run' and finishing strong is the last for the Present administration and the first for the 8th Edo State House of Assembly.

 

The total size of the estimates is put at three hundred and twenty-five point three billion naira. A slight increase from that of last year

 

Before providing a breakdown of the 2024 budget, Governor Obaseki gave an insight into his activities in the past seven years, which include the Six thematic pillars on which the present administration commenced.

 

Accessing the 2023 budget, Governor Obaseki said irrespective of the present economic challenges occasioned by the increase in the pump price of Fuel, and depreciation of the naira, the present administration still ensured it met its end of the bargain with the provision of adequate Healthcare facilities, education with Edo best, tourism, industrialization, etc.

 

A breakdown of the 2024 Estimates shows that twenty-five percent of the total sum which is the highest is earmarked for job creation and other areas that are expected to stimulate the growth of the state, Nineteen percent is for infrastructural development, particularly roads.

 

Others are health and education ten percent each, electricity, two percent, youth and gender issues will also gulp two percent of the total estimate.

While environment and climate issues will take two percent.

 

Receiving the Budget estimates, the Speaker, of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chief Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku stated that the Budget estimates were special to the 8th Assembly as they included the Constituency projects of the lawmakers towards meeting the yearnings and aspirations of people of the State.

 

Rt Hon Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku emphasized that the House would ensure the speedy passage of the budget estimates, calling on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to provide necessary documents to aid work on the budget.

 

He thereafter urged the clerk of the House, Alhaji Yahaya Audu Omogbai to give the budget proposal its first reading and schedule it for a second reading where lawmakers will have the opportunity to share their thoughts.

 

The Budget presentation had in attendance, Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Phillip Shaibu, SSG, Barr Osarodion Ogie, HOS  Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, civil Commissioners, Party Chieftains led by the PDP State Chairman, Hon Tony Aziengbemin, Council Chairmen and other State Government Dignitaries.