By Onomiguren Agbamu
Amidst growing attacks on the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori led Government over huge statutory allocations received monthly from the Federation Accounts, Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen disclosed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has paid one hundred and sixty one billion Naira out of the four hundred and sixty five billion Naira debt inherited from the previous administrations in the state.
Hon. Ekedayen stated this at his office in Asaba while interacting with newsmen said about twelve billion Naira was set aside every month for debt servicing.
The commissioner hinted that the present administration had reduced the debts owed by Delta State by about thirty five per cent as a result of its prudent management of the state statutory allocations and the internally generated revenue.
Ekedayen also noted that the over forty five billion Naira received monthly from the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) was being utilized prudently, and about twelve billion Naira was spent in payment of salaries for the state’s workforce, which according to him is more than fifty five thousand employees including political appointees.
While giving a breakdown of the state government expenditures, the Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning revealed that billions of Naira were being invested in maintaining over one thousand, six hundred public primary and secondary schools across the state, including subsidizing enrollment fees for senior secondary students to reduce the financial burden on families, as well as the social investment schemes geared towards alleviating the plights of residents of the state.
The commissioner gave an assurance that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori would continue to execute projects in all parts of the state apart from the ongoing three flyover projects, roads, drainages, renovation and upgrade of hospitals , procurement of state of the art medical equipment which he said were adequately funded to ensure quality abd speedy completion.
The Commissioner who reiterated that the MORE agenda of the present administration was for the good of the people and the overall development of all parts of the state, called on Deltans to continue to support the administration of Governor Oborevwori.