- As Ekadayen Justifies Increased Budgetary Allocation To Agric Sector
BY ANDREW IKEHI/AWELE OGBOGU
DELTA State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije has disclosed that the Delta State Government has no intention of borrowing to fund the state’s N900 billion proposed budget for 2025 despite being 105 per cent higher than that of the 2024 Budget.
He made this known at the Delta State House of Assembly Complex, yesterday, while interacting with newsmen shortly after the ministry’s appearance before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to defend its 2025 proposed budget.
He said that in 2025, Delta would experience all-round development in pursuant of the MORE Agenda as there would be major economic variables that would drive the system.
He revealed that key sectors of the economy like agriculture, health, education, amongst others would receive the full attention of the government.
“We would do more in the area of agriculture, there is no reason why each local government area cannot have at least one farm settlement. The establishment of farm settlements would help check the issues of farmers/ herders clashes as adequate security would be easily provided at the settlements.
The 2024 budget performance document as released by the ministry revealed that for capital expenditure, the state acquired 8 per cent equity in UTM floating Liquified Natural Gas (FLNG) project in 2023.The actual capital in 2024 was not so high as the state was yet to undergo any major direct investment.
The ministry has pledged to work towards more direct investment come 2025 as well as continue to sustain the gains of State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program(SFTAS) and the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).
On his part, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekadayen emphasized the role of the State government in ensuring food security, hence the proposed budget sum of N7bn for agriculture.
The economic planning commissioner stressed that the State government, through the Ministry of Agriculture will roll out programmes and policies aimed at boosting food production thereby ensuring food security.
Mr. Ekadayen said the state government will do it’s best to increase food production so as to crash the prize of food items for the common man.
“The objective of every government aside from security of lives and property, is to increase food production in order to crash the price of food items in the market. The Commissioner for Agriculture, I’m sure, will come up with programs in that direction”, Ekadayen said.
Both commissioners and officials of their ministries appeared before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
