By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has presented the 2017 fiscal year budget estimate of N221 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage, as against the N191.5 billion of the previous year.

Presenting the appropriation bill tagged, Budget of Repositioning For Fonsolidation,  to the legislators, Dickson said the estimate comprised a recurrent expenditure of N136.9 bilion, while capital expenditure was N84.3 bilion.

The budget, according to the governor, was expected to be funded through statutory allocation estimated at N191 billion, Value Added Tax N6.9 billion, internally generated revenue of N15 billion and capital receipts of N8.07 billion.

•Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa

On sectoral allocations, he announced N26.9 billion for the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, which got the lion’s share, followed by Education with N13.5 billion, Health N5.9 billion, while Agriculture and Natural Resources got N4.024 billion.

Power Ministry was allocated N3.4 billion, Budget and Economic Planning N3.3 billion, Housing and Urban Development N3 billion, Sports Development N2.5 billion, while Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs was earmarked N2.3 billion.

Dickson, who said the budget was intended to complete all the on-going projects, allocated N2 billion to the Ministry of Lands and Survey, Transport N1.9, Finance N1.7 billion, Trade, Industry and Investment N0.739 billion, Information N0.631 billion and Water Resources N0.500 billion.