Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo state

Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The 2017 budget estimates of N153.2 billion, has been passed by Edo State House of Assembly.

THE House however raised the budget estimate of N150 billion presented by Governor Godwin Obaseki, on December 19, 2016, with about N3 billion.

The budget originally presented consisted of N75.11 billion as capital expenditures while the proposed recurrent expenditures stood at N74.9 billion

Chairman, Appropriation and Project Monitoring, Damian Lawani (APC Etsako Central) constituency, while considering the bill clause by clause, said the budget reflected the views of the people and was designed to consolidate and complete all ongoing projects.

During the consideration of the bill, N76.6 billion was allocated for capital expenditures, while N76.5 billion was allocated for re-current expenditures.

The breakdown of the bill showed that N18.5 billion, N7.2 billion, N3.6 billion and N6.034 billion were allocated for the recurrent expenditures of the administrative, economic, law and justice and social sectors respectively.

The sums of N5.68 billion, N47.billion and N1.84 billion, and N22.09 were also allocated for the capital expenditures for the administrative, economic, law and justice and social sectors respectively.

Following exhaustive consideration of the document with amendments, the bill was finally passed by the House.

The Speaker, Justin Okonoboh thereafter directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to the governor for his approval.