Gov Diri signs N314.4bn appropriation bill into law

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has signed into law the state’s 2022 Appropriation Bill of over N314.4 billion naira which was passed by the House of Assembly.

Governor Diri assented to the bill in his office in Government House, Yenagoa in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, his deputy, Michael Ogbere, the House Leader, Monday Bubou, other principal officers of the assembly and top government functionaries.

The Governor had in October presented to the assembly the bill tagged “Budget of Sustainable Growth” of over N310 billion Naira.

Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Abraham Ingobere, however, explained that the original figure was increased by N3.7 billion Naira.

The governor expressed happiness that the budget was speedily passed by the assembly within the 2021 fiscal year.

He stated that his administration was working towards moving away from dependence on federal allocations by improving the state’s internally generated revenue.

Governor Diri charged those entrusted with the responsibility of collecting revenue to do more to increase the state’s revenue profile from N1billion naira to N1.5 billion Naira monthly.

The Bayelsa helmsman appreciated the House for its commitment and called for more collaboration between both arms of government for the development of the state.

Governor Diri urged all Bayelsans to work with his administration for the development of the state rather than engaging in criticisms that do the state no good.

Speaking earlier, the Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, stated that the additional N3.7 billion Naira was necessitated by the need to include some government agencies and other areas that were not captured in the bill.

He noted that the figures presented were achievable based on the key parameters used to estimate the budget.

Ingobere applauded the governor for proposing a people-oriented budget, which he said would satisfy the needs of Bayelsans in the next fiscal year as it captured projects that cut across the three senatorial districts.

The Speaker also thanked the state’s economic team for doing comprehensive work, which made it easier for them to pass the bill. (RadioNigeria)