Dickson Budgets N320.6bn For 2015 Expenditures

Governor Seriake Dickson
of Bayelsa State has presented an estimate of N320,621,216.641 to the State House of Assembly for consideration as an amount to be spent next year.
Tagged  “Budget of Completion,” Governor Dickson explained that, the amount comprises N175, 776, 828, 076 or 54% for recurrent expenditure, while N144, 844, 388, 565 or 45.2% representing capital expenditure.
According to the Governor, the total amount of the 2015 budget is expected to be financed from a total revenue projection of N231, 317, 000,000 and capital receipts of N89, 304, 216, 641.
Giving a sectoral breakdown of the 2015 fiscal budget, he noted that the sum of N65.9 billion was allocated to the Works and Infrastructure sub sector, while N20.9 billion was earmarked for Education.
Governor Dickson, who assured that most of the ongoing projects in the health sector would be completed, particularly the 5 new referral hospitals under construction, MelfordOkilo Memorial Hospital, rehabilitation work on over 30 healthcentres across the state and allotted N7,151,258,665 to the sector.
On Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Governor proposed the sum of N4, 200,000,000, stating that, the establishment ofacqua-culture and starch processing centres as well as the execution of the rice and plantain/banana value chainprogrammes, are as a result of a memorandum of understanding between the government and its development partners.
He also said the government would commence work on the new water reticulation network in the Yenagoa metropolis next year, which would be extended to the rural communities.
While directing the state-owned electricity company as well as the ministry of Power to liaise with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to ensure improved power supply in the state, Governor Dickson allocated the sum of N7, 58, 000,000 to the Public Utilities sub sector.