SABONGIDA ORA – The Owan West Local Government Area of Edo, on Monday proposed to spend N2.9 billion for the 2014 fiscal year.
The Chairman of the council, Mr Godwin Aigbodion, presented the budget proposal before the council’s legislative arm at the council’s headquarters in Sabonginda Ora.
The budget christened “Budget of Consolidation’’, is N4 million higher than N2.5 billion budgeted in 2013.
A breakdown of the budget showed that capital expenditure got the lion share of N1.9 billion against N984.6 million allocated to recurrent expenditure.
Aigbodion said the 2014 budget was capital-oriented and designed to consolidate on the previous achievements recorded by the administration.
He said the 2014 budget was aimed to turn the fortunes of the council around and to ensure that the needed developments were brought to the rural populace.
“We shall consolidate on what we have started to the best of our financial ability.
“By this we intend to remain very prudent and stringent with our recurrent expenditures in order to maintain a critical balance between capital and recurrent expenditure.
“In achieving our budgetary objectives and plans, we intend to work consciously with the career officers to make Owan West Local Government great,’’ he said.
According to him, major highlights of the budget included the provision of electricity, agricultural inputs, water, health and infrastructure development and prompt payment of salaries and pension.
The council chairman said that the major focus of the budget revolves around increasing the council’s internally-generated revenue.
Also speaking speaking, the leader of the House, Mr Ajayi Okizi, promised to ensure quick consideration and passage of the 2014 appropriation bill.
He urged the chairman not to relent in his effort to bring development nearer to the people so that the social-economic transformation will impact people in the local government area.
“We on our part assure you of speedy passage of the budget and we want you as the chairman on your part to ensure its speedy implementation,’’ he said. (NAN)