BY FIDELIS EGUGBO/LUCKY OYIBO

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has presented N391.51billion budget proposal for the 2014 fiscal year to the state’s legislature with a strong assurance that his administration will finish strong.
Tagged, Budget of “Consolidation, Sustainable Economic Growth and Development,” Governor Uduaghan disclosed that the amount “comprises N159.78 billion (one hundred and fifty nine billion, seven hundred and eighty million naira) or 48.8 per cent for recurrent expenditure and N231.72 billion (two hundred and thirty one billion, seven hundred and twenty million naira) or 59.1 per cent for capital expenditure.”
The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), the Chairman, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, top government functionaries and politicians to the House of Assembly complex for the budget presentation, said that the budget was designed to sustain the drive towards the Delta Beyond Oil initiatives.
“The main focus of year 2014 budget is to sustain the drive towards Delta State beyond oil initiative; we have in this respect put together a budget and business plan with the objectives and priorities we set out in the three point agenda,” he said
“Emphasis in 2014 shall be on the completion of ongoing key projects given the size of carryover projects, this is a result oriented strategy, wherein an allocation to budget heads are tied to performing projects and programmes that can sustain development.”
“It is worthy to note that a budget of N472.006 billion (four hundred and seventy two billion, six million naira) with a recurrent expenditure of N156.403 billion (one hundred and fifty six billion, four hundred and three million naira) and a capital budget of N315.602 billion (three hundred and fifteen billion, six hundred and two million naira) was approved for the 2013 fiscal year”.
“I want to restate our very strong desire to finish strong and with 2014 being the last full year of this administration in office, Deltans are desirous that the promises and hopes we have raised should be kept. We are determined that it should be so.”
“I believe we will finish strong because we have to a large extent restored public confidence in government, we have created credible institutions of governance, we have enacted friendly and conducive environment for anyone to fulfil their God given potentials, this has given our people hope of bright and happy future,” he added
The Governor assured Deltans that his administration will act competently and ensure that public finances are managed in the best possible way, noting that “our people expect at all times good judgment and discretion from the government it elected and none of us can rest or sleep peacefully until economic uncertainty, unemployment and poverty are tackled.”
“The new vision today is ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ and this is gradually sinking into the hearts and minds of all Nigerians. The song now is ‘Nigeria Beyond Oil’ and we should be proud that Delta State set the pace for this nation to look beyond oil,” he noted
The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei commended Governor Uduaghan for the timely presentation of the budget and assured that the legislature would give the deserved attention to the budget proposal.