On Wednesday, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State unveiled a budget proposal totaling ₦480.994 billion for the 2024 fiscal year to the state’s House of Assembly. This marks an increase from the revised ₦439.272 billion provision in 2023.
Titled “Budget of Sustainable and Shared Prosperity,” the governor presented the appropriation bill, recalling the assembly’s approval of the 2024–2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF and FSP) in October 2023. He clarified that the budget proposal aligns with the assumptions endorsed by the assembly.
His words, “Mr. Speaker, I wish to present the 2024 budget estimates to the House. We are guided by the desire to prepare a realistic, implementable, and prioritised budget, which is a reflection of the aspirations and wishes of critical stakeholders and the economic realities in the country.
“I hereby present to you the 2024 budget with a total size of ₦480,993,632,369.00.”
He mentioned that the funding for the 2024 estimates would be sourced from statutory allocation, value-added tax, 13 per cent derivation, internally generated revenue, and various capital receipts.
Regarding proposed expenditure, the governor elaborated that personnel costs would amount to N69.120 billion (representing 14.37 per cent), overhead costs to N54.096 billion (32.04 per cent), and capital expenditures to N257.777 billion.
Breaking down the sectoral allocation, the Works and Infrastructure Ministry received the highest share of N141.837 billion, followed by Education with N49.888 billion.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health was allocated N26.41 billion, Environment received N15.554 billion, and Agriculture and Natural Resources were allotted N14.886 billion.
Other ministries such as Youths and Sports received N7.656 billion, Lands and Housing N6.876 billion, and the Ministry of Power was allotted N6.49 billion.
Diri also assessed the performance of the 2023 budget, noting significant achievements in areas like security, education, health, agriculture, human capacity building, and infrastructure development, among others.
“We built and upgraded health facilities across all LGAs and health-related tertiary institutions, including completion and furnishing of the first psychiatric hospital in Bayelsa State.
“Also, in partnership with Fly Zipline, we established a health chain distribution system to cater for drug distribution and emergency health matters using drones.
“Health Insurance Scheme enrolment is also growing by the day. As of 2020, our mobilisation was limited to the public service. We went further in 2023 to launch the “Diri Care” programme, which boosted the enrolment of the informal sector.
“The total enrolment as of November 2023 is 149,067, with civil servant enrollees totalling 118,030, vulnerable population at 27,803, and the informal sector at 3,134.
“We have in the past three years ensured that the Civil Service is given the necessary attention (including the prompt payment of salaries and regular promotions) for an effective workforce and to enhance the economic and social development of the state because ours is predominantly a civil service state.
“In addition, this administration consistently ensured that the entitlements of our senior citizens (by way of pensions and gratuities) were paid promptly. Over N3.3 billion was spent on gratuities and N10.8 billion on pensions in 2023.
“Let me assure you that, even in the coming year, we will continue to meet our obligations to senior citizens within the limits of available resources,” he said.
The governor added, “We will endeavour to ensure strict discipline, transparency, and due process in the implementation of the 2024 budget. In this regard, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is empowered to regularly analyse, monitor, and evaluate the budget performance against the various government policies, programmes and projects.”
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