ShareWith N383.39 billion proposed for the 2012 fiscal year, Delta State government said poverty reduction and empowerment of the people, increased access to improved quality health care, social service and infrastructure, as well as attainment of the Millenium Development Goals would be given accelerated impetus.
Also, enhancement and exploitation of public-private partnership in all aspects of the economy to foster generation of more employment opportunities for the teeming youths form the fiscal point of the budget.
State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Ken Okpara, at the budget breakdown in Asaba, said diversification of the economic base of the state mainly through the model of special economic zones (SEZ) would receive attention.
According to him, the dominance of capital estimate put at N213.5billionm over recurrent of N169.82billion in the budget showed the administration commitment towards massive infrastructure development through out the state.
Personnel costs took the lion share of the recurrent which is N80.56billion, overhead costs N48.68billion while consolidated revenue fund charges attracted N40.56billion.
The commissioner disclosed that economic sector under the capital expenditure took the greater chunk of N72.94billion, social service N45.31billion, environmental sector N37.807billion, Delta State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) N35billion, general administration N22.004 billion and contingency N500million.
The expenditure thrust of the administration, Mr Okpara said, showed that amongst others, training of teachers, equipment of schools, upgrading of some central hospitals to specialist hospitals, complete equipment of primary health centres and reduction in death caused by malaria and tuberculosis.
Others include intensifying rural electrification, reverine transportation and ongoing rehabilitation of township and trunk roads, as well as subsidising fertiliser, and tractor procurement.
Original post:
Delta budget targets poverty reduction, employment generation