2022 BUDGET PREPARATION: Bayelsa Govt Assures on Judicious Use of Resources
by Peregba Jerry
Bayelsa State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensure judicious utilization of available resources for the development of the state.
The state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, gave the assurance at a stakeholders public interactive session for the preparation of the 2022 annual budget in Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor, noted that while budgetary allocations are only estimations of what government intends to do, their implementation would be determined by availability of funds.
He therefore urged the people to base their expectations within the limits of available resources as effective implementation of programmes and projects could only be determined by available funds.
Diri said if not for the paucity of funds and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration could have recorded more achievements in office.
He called on the participants to make useful suggestions to enrich the budget preparation process, assuring that government would continue to invest in development-oriented projects and programmes to better the lot of the people.
His words, “As a government, we are poised to ensure that every available resources is used to the most effective productivity of Bayelsa State.
“Budget is an estimation, the implementation is the reality. As we prepare the budget,we should not think that everything will be implemented hook, line and sinker because resources are not always available.
“Non-availability of resources would make it difficult for us. As Bayelsans, let us desire the available and not aim at what is unavailable.”
Highlighting the performance of the 2020 budget, the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Maxwell Ebibai, said the state received a total sum of 136 billion naira from statutory allocations, 13% derivation fund, value added tax (VAT) and other receipts.
Hon. Ebibai also announced the receipt of 27.5 billion naira from the Federal Government as reimbursement for capital projects after a 7.5% discount on the 38.4 billion naira total value of promissory note that had a tenure of four years.
On expenditure, he noted that 10.1billion naira was expended on consolidated revenue fund charges (pension and gratuities only), N49bn on personnel cost, 38billion naira for capital projects among other expenses.
Stressing the administration’s commitment to reforms aimed at promoting good governance, Hon. Ebibai advised the people to approach relevant agencies for clarification on government’s financial records, rather than demarketing the state through misinformation.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Akpoebidei Alamieyeseigha, explained that the programme was organized to encourage citizens participation in line with the present administration’s “bottom-top approach” to budget preparation.
The interactive programme was attended by stakeholders from all walks of life including financial experts, traditional rulers, traders, physically challenged persons and representatives of civil society organizations.
