Delta proposes N9.4b in 2015 Budget for development of schools infrastructure

The Delta State Government has proposed N9.4 billion in the 2015 Budget for the development of infrastructure in all schools across the state.

Patrick Ferife, the Commissioner for Directorate of Special Infrastructure, said this on Wednesday.

Ferife made the disclosure on Wednesday in Asaba at a budget defence meeting with members of the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

He said N2.1 billion was spent in 2014 for the renovation and rehabilitation of schools across the state.

He added that the N2.1 billion spent on the renovation and rehabilitation of schools last year, represented 35 per cent performance as the directorate had budgeted N6 billion for the project.

Ferife said that though the directorate budgeted N2.6 billion for remodeling, rehabilitation and equipping of Baptist Hospital, Eku, only N1 billion was released for the project in the 2014 budget.

He said N1.9 billion had been proposed in the 2015 budget for the procurement and installation of new equipment in the hospital.

He said the construction and equipping of the 100 bed Integrated Mother and Child Care Centre in Warri had been completed and inaugurated, adding that work was still ongoing at the MCC Centre in Ekpan.

The commissioner told the committee that N1.7 billion was needed in the 2015 budget for outstanding payments and additional works on the project.

He said that government approved the contract for the construction of 30 Bus Shelters and four city bus terminals at the sum of N1.2 billion in 2014.

“The projects had been completed and N63 million is required to pay outstanding balance to the contractors,” he said.

Ferife told the committee that construction work on Sapele/Abiugborodo/Arowon Road project was 75 per cent completed.

He added that construction work on the Trans/Warri Ode Itsekiri bridges and access road was 62 per cent completion.

The Chairman of the Committee, Daniel Mayuku, restated the commitment of the legislature to ensure adequate funding of all government projects across the state.