Gov. Godwin Obaseki:

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Edo State House of Assembly on Monday approved a downward review of the state’s 2017 budget from N153.18 billion as passed in February to N127.92 billion.

The State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, had on 16 October, written to the House, seeking approval for the downward reduction of the budget.

The House’s rules 20, 27, 42 43 44 and 45 were suspended to enable the lawmakers consider the bill.

In the reviewed bill, the government slashed the recurrent expenditure from N76.5 billion to N66.9 billion, while the capital expenditure was also reduced from N76.6 billion to N61.8 billion.

The Majority Leader of the House, Roland Asoro (APC Orihionmwon South), who moved the motion for consideration of the bill, said the reduction in the budget was to allow the state government meet the prevailing economic realities.

Asoro further explained that the reduction was due to the dwindling allocations from the federation account, arising from the fall in oil prices at the international market.

The Deputy Speaker and member representing (APC Esan Central), Victor Edoror, seconded the motion.

Following a unanimous aduption of the bill by the House, the speaker, Kabiru Adjoto, declared that the 2017 appropriation Act had to be reviewed downward because of the dwindling federal allocation.

”We are reviewing the budget downward to reflect the reality of the nation’s economy,” he said.