Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Urban Renewal, Hon Pereotu Oloye has stressed the need for sustained high budgetary performance in the Ministry of Urban Renewal in the 2025 fiscal year.
Oloye stated this when the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Engr Michael Anoka led other top officials to appear before the House Committee on Urban Renewal to defend its 2025 budget estimates.
The Lawmaker who represents Burutu 2 Constituency in the House, noted that the Ministry of Urban Renewal is key to the development strides of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as encapsulated in his MORE agenda.
Flanked by other members of the Committee, Hon Oloye emphasised that efforts should be made to open up the State for more massive infrastructural development as such will attract investments and increase socio-economic vibes across state.
The Lawmaker paid glowing tributes to Governor Oborevwori for the high budget performance in the Ministry of Urban Renewal in the outgoing 2024 fiscal year and expressed optimism that more will be achieved in the Ministry in 2025.
He particularly commended the Governor for upgrading Warri, Uvwie and Asaba Capital Territory to Smart cities.
Hon Oloye said although the 9 billion naira earmarked for the urban renewal projects was inadequate, the Committee would assist the ministry to ensure they get more funds to implement the policies and programmes of the Ministry.
The Lawmaker urged the ministry to use approved budgetary allocation for the benefit of Deltans, adding that Governor Oborevwori has assured the State government’s readiness to deliver on his promises to the people.
Hon Oloye commended the Commissioner and his team for their commitment to ensuring that the Ministry performed optimally and encouraged them to maintain good synergy with the Committee.
Appearing before the Lawmakers, the Urban Renewal Commissioner, Engr Michael Anoka, FNSE, explained that the Ministry recorded high performance in the outgoing 2024 fiscal year and commended the Governor for the approvals.
He said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborovwori, for his unwavering support to the Ministry’s effective functioning and prompt considerations whenever called upon.
“Despite the challenges of 2024, God’s faithfulness has enabled us to perform our duties diligently”.
Anoka identified challenges faced by the Ministry and called for the support of the Committee in addressing them.
The Commissioner said the Ministry is committed to building on the progress made so far in line with the development goals of the state government.
Anoka assured that the ministry will work assiduously to improve the standards of cities and towns in Delta State.
“The Ministry will no doubt work in line with the State government’s MORE Agenda in ensuring meaningful development in the urban areas of the State”, Anoka stressed.
Bureau for Special Duties told to enhance 2025 budget performance
Meanwhile, the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Special Duties has urged the Bureau for Special Duties to perform better in the 2025 fiscal year.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Anthony Alapala gave the advice when the Bureau appeared before the members for its 2025 budget defence at the Assembly complex of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Reacting to the 9.25% budget performance of the Bureau in the outgoing 2024, the Committee Chairman who represents Burutu 1 Constituency frowned at the claim of not being able to access funds for its operations.
Flanked by other members of the Committee, including the Majority Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, James Augoye, Matthew Omonade, Bernard Odior, Charles Emetulu and Blessing Achoja, the Lawmaker sued for better performance in 2025 as Deltans were looking up to better services.
Apparently not impressed with the low performance figure of the Bureau within the period under review, Hon Nwaobi, enjoined the commissioner to ensure that he speed up action in the coming year in order to key perfectly into the MORE agenda of the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
“I must say that the Committee is not impressed with your performance ratio of Nine per cent in the 2024 budget. That to us, was very poor.
“In this coming year, you should up your game in order to add impetus to the fiscal consolidation vision of the State Government’s 2025 budget.
“It is not how far, but how well we are able to go. So, we encourage you to do more in the coming year so that Deltans would benefit from the MORE agenda of His Excellency, the Governor of our dear State.
“This advice is important because, when you succeed as a Ministry, then, the State would have succeeded,” Nwaobi said.
The Commissioner Bureau for Special Duties, Terry Etacherure in his Budget defence solicited for additional funds to enable the Bureau perform optimally as expected.
He said the initial 2.6 billion naira approved was grossly inadequate, even as he promised Deltans of better services in 2025.
Speaking with Journalists shortly after his budget defence, the commissioner, while blaming the poor performance on poor release of funds, however, lauded the committee for the advice, just as he assured Deltans that 2025 would witness improved performance.
Other affiliate agencies that appeared for budget defence under the Ministry include Project Monitoring, Sustainable Development Growth (SDG), Job and Wealth Creation Bureau and Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency.