by Iyobosa Omorogie

Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, has presented the state’s 2015 budget to the state House of Assembly for approval.

According to the state governor, the budget, tagged “Budget of Developmental Consolidation,” which stands at an estimate of N156.551 billion, is aimed at taking the state to the next level.

The 2015 budget which is N4 billion lower than the 2014 budget(N160.1 billion), is made up of N87.5 billion as capital expenditure, representing 55.77 per cent.

Oshiomole revealed that the budget is designed towards the completion of all ongoing projects; injection of new investments in key priority sectors of the administration – roads construction and rehabilitation, education, health, water, rural electrification and environmental protection including drainage towards erosion control and beautification.

Also to be addressed by the budget is job creation through economic empowerment with emphasis on micro-credit to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs); project for mass housing; expanding the revenue base; creation of the enabling environment for domestic and direct foreign investment; and deepening of governance reforms.

“The budget is designed to achieve the consolidation of this administration’s developmental agenda and focus on key priority sector of government namely; infrastructure, education and health,” the governor said.

The budget is made up of four sectors;
-Administration: N17.873 billion recurrent and N4.031 billion capital
-Economic: N5.342 billion recurrent and N26.029 billion Capital
-Law and Justice: N2.955 billion recurrent and N0.837 billion capital
-Social: N20.173 billion recurrent and N46.665 billion capital

Emmanuel Chidiogo