- As Ekedayen Tasks MDAs On Judicious Use Of Resources
BY AWELE OGBOGU
The Delta State Government is projecting a budget envelope of around N936 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, as it kick-started the Inter-Ministerial Budget Defense, yesterday, in Asaba to enable all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) take their turn in defending their 2025 budget proposal.
Convener of the 2025 Inter-Ministerial Budget Defense, Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen declared that the upcoming 2025 Budget will be based on actual receipts of June 2024 till date, adding that it is a 30 per cent increment from the current budget of N725 billion.
A number of MDAs have already appeared before the committee, during yesterday’s opening ceremony of the budget defense. As more MDAs prepare to appear today and in the coming days, Ekedayen said that with honesty on their part as well as judicious use of resources, the budget envelope will be used to service the entire state.
Although he expressed regret that the value of the Naira has taken a dip and that the amount could have given the state much more value a year ago, he said it would go a long way in providing for Deltans using the instrumentality of the state’s MDAs.
Saying that national policies especially the subsidy removal and exchange rate floatation has greatly imparted the economy of the entire country, Ekedayen counseled Deltans to make necessary adjustments as the economic realities take a toll on individuals.
He, however, posited that petrol is not likely to go up again having been rightly priced at the current pump price, while expressing optimism that although the tough times may persist for some time, the country will be better for it.
