By Austin Ogwuda, Asaba
THE acting Governor of Delta Prince Sam  Obi, Wednesday presented a budget proposal of N240.58 billion for the 2011 fiscal year before the State House of Assembly, just as the former Speaker of the House, Mr. Martin Okonta was eventually sworn in as member representing  Ika South constituency, thereby displacing embattled Kingsley Nonye  Philips.

The budget proposal is made up of N117.85 billion for Recurrent Expenditure and N122.73 billion for Capital Expenditure, showing a decrease of N91.27 billion or 27.50 percent when compared to the year 2010 approved budget of N331.86 billion.

Acting Speaker Obi explained that “the decrease is due to militants activities in Niger Delta area and declining derivation indices to Delta State”.

He however emphasized that “in the post-amnesty period, the State Government will continue to partner with both the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta and the Niger Delta Development Commission on the construction of inter-nodal transportation system in the region.
Also, the State Government will continue its effort to encourage the Federal Government to dredge the Escravos breakwaters, maintain the improved tempo at the Warri Port and the reactivation of the Koko Port. These will open up the coastal areas to more economic activities and of course employment opportunities for our teeming youths”.

As a way to ensuring the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals MDGs as adopted during the UN Millennium Development Summit of September 2000, he said “Government will continue to partner with International Development Agencies on programmes that will strengthen existing public service institutions for their traditional roles in Government.

“Along this line, he went on, “the State will be working with UNDP to improve the budgeting process by linking it with the MDGs in specific and measurable ways”, adding that “the  sum of N1.5 billion is set aside as the state’s counterpart fund for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals for the 2011 fiscal year”.

While concluding the presentation, acting Governor Obi said “our projections will be an exercise in futility if we do not make conscious efforts to ensure peace, security and harmony in the state.

Indeed, the relevant of the relationship between democratic stability and economic development is as worthy of stressing as the need for institutionalized continuity and harmony. These are the prerequisites for economic development in any state”, he stated.