Group Raises Concern Over Delta State N126B Extra-Budgetary Expenses

Policy Alert, a civil society organisation working to promote fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta, has flagged extra-budgetary spending by the government of Delta State amounting to N126bn within the three quarters of 2023.

The group’s Programme Officer, Fiscal Reforms and Anti-Corruption, Faith Paulinus, in a statement said the organisation is working to promote fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta.

She observed that between January and September 2023, Government House and Protocol and 25 other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) engaged in extra-budgetary spending amounting to N126bn.

The red flags, according to Policy Alert, were spotted during a review of the state Third Quarter Budget Performance Report 2023, reporting that some of the spending had exceeded 200 percent of what was budgeted.

“Government House and Protocol had a budget of N22.38bn but between January and September 2023 and with a full quarter left to the end of the fiscal year, the office had already spent N46.67bn which is 208.6 percent of what was budgeted,” the statement read in part.

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Policy Alert listed the MDAs caught in the web of extra-budgetary spending to include Delta State Liaison Office Abuja, Delta state Liaison Office Lagos, ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General, Delta State Council for Arts and Culture, Delta State Water Regulatory Commission, Ministry of Urban Renewal, Judicial Service Commission, and Ministry of Justice.

Others are the Ministry of Secondary Education, Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro, Delta State Polytechnic Oghara, University of Delta Agbor, State Library Board, Ministry of Health, Traditional Medicine Board, School of Nursing Warri, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Others are State School of Health Technology Ughelli, Contributory Health Commission, Delta State Environmental Protection Agency, Secretariat of Traditional Council, Delta State Broadcast Service, Special Projects (Political Appointees) and Tractor Hire Agency.

While noting that extra-budgetary spending is a violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Law of Delta State, Policy Alert called on the State House of Assembly to immediately investigate the breach of the law and take necessary action to hold the executive accountable.

The organisation also called attention to the unwholesome trend of supplementary budgeting in the state, saying “We are aware that the House of Assembly recently approved a second 2023 supplementary budget of N167bn in addition to an earlier N71bn 2023 supplementary budget signed into law in the last days of the previous administration.

“This indicates poor fiscal discipline and could turn the state’s budget into a mere ritual rather than a tool for planning and accountability.”

However, when contacted, Commissioner for Finance, Delta State, Sir Fidelis Tilije, said the state is prudent and considerate.

The commissioner said that government expenditures were funded by different sources and expended in making payments to several projects, including recurrent expenditure,”

“This means that Delta State today is the only state that can write off all its debts and then run normally the way we are running and still ensure that things are done. I have said categorically that Delta State is the most solvent state in this country,” he said.