Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 presented a N325.3 billion budget to the Edo State House of Assembly, for the 2024 fiscal year, which is a slight increase from the N320bn budgeted for the year 2023.

Obaseki, who presented the budget to the Assembly, at the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex in Benin City, said the budget is made up of N178 billion for Capital and N146 billion for Recurrent expenditure.

Obaseki said with the budget christened, ‘Budget Home Run: Finishing Strong,’ his government intends to, despite the global economic headwinds and attendant implications for the national economy, marshal resources to complete ongoing projects across the state in furtherance of government’s commitment to the wellbeing and prosperity of Edo State and sustain efforts to improve the ease of doing business, consolidate on key reform programmes and conclude all transactions needed to stimulate economic growth.

The governor noted that the total projected revenue for 2024 is N303 billion, consisting of N55 billion statutory allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N38billion, capital receipts of 40 billion; IGR of N72 billion and N10 billion from grants, among others.

“The revenue estimates are based on a $65 per barrel benchmark for crude oil with an average daily production of 1.60m barrels per day as well as an increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to N72 billion, which will be bolstered by reforms in revenue collection, property laws and land management reforms,” he added.

Obaseki said the focus areas for the 2024 fiscal year include growth and employment enablers such as the trailer and transit parks, ICT infrastructure, Benin Port projects, which will gulp N85bn; road and transport infrastructure, N62bn; health, N33bn; education, N32bn and buildings, physical planning and development control, N21bn.

Other areas include Social Welfare/Benefits N16bn; Environment, N5bn; Electricity, N7bn; Agriculture, N6bn and Youth, Social Development and Gender, N6bn.

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According to him, the 2024 budget is informed by the need to build a resilient and sustainable foundation for the reforms, initiatives and programmes that we have embarked on in the last seven years.

“The ultimate target is to promote economic expansion, technology, arts and culture, social inclusion and economic empowerment for Edo citizens, through sustained investments across various sectors of the economy necessary to drive growth and development. Public Private Partnership (PPP) will continue to dominate our investment initiatives in the New Year,” the governor added.

Receiving the 2024 budget proposal, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Blessing Agbebaku assured the governor that the legislative arm will continue to work harmoniously with the executive to ensure the socioeconomic growth and development of the State.

Hailing the governor for his developmental strides across all sectors of the State, the Speaker commended the governor for extending the free bus service across the State by three months.

The Star