₦airaland Forum

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Buhari, Jonathan, Obaseki, Okowa, Dickson, Others Grace Anenih's Funeral Mass In Uromi

President Muhammadu Buhari, former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and a long-list of the who-is-who in Nigeria's political and business communities on Saturday graced the funeral mass in honour of late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Anenih.

The dignitaries, including Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who represented President Buhari, converged at the St. Anthony Catholic Cathedral, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area to pay their last respect to late Chief Anenih.

The mass was part of the state burial organised for Chief Anenih, the Iyasele of Esan land, in recognition of his contributions to the development of Edo State and Nigeria.

In his homily, the Bishop of the Diocese of Uromi, Most Rev. Dr Donatus Ogun, said human life was a journey and should be lived in service to humanity and with consciousness of the existence of the supreme being.

The Bishop said late Anenih was an exceptionally generous person, who believed in giving opportunities to others to achieve their dreams and was a man of integrity, who stood and lived by his words, a virtue which made him to excel in his political career.

"He believed that every situation could be solved and he helped to give solution to every problem brought to him," the Bishop said.

In his votes of thanks, the first son of the deceased, Anthony Anenih Jnr., described his late father as a national leader, a statesman and a caring father to many.

"He was a beloved pillar in our community; from Uromi to Benin and through out Edo. He was our protector, umbrella and educator.

He said his father believed in caring for the elderly, which made him set up a Geriatric Centre at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Other dignitaries at the event include National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among others.

Source: http://thebellng.com/buhari-jonathan-obaseki-okowa-dickson-others-grace-anenihs-funeral-mass-in-uromi/

PHOTO 1
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (right) former President, Goodluck Jonathan (middle) and Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, at the Funeral Mass held in honour of elder statesman, Chief Anthony Anenih, at St. Anthony Catholic Cathedral, Uromi, Edo State, on Saturday, December 1, 2018.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Edo State government have commemorated the 2018 World Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Day, charging residents in the state on regular checks to know their status.

Wife of the Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen, led the sensitisation campaign themed, ‘Know Your Status, with members of the Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EDOSACA) at the Edo State House of Assembly complex in Benin City, Edo State.

Mrs Obaseki said the event was held to harp on the need for the people of Edo State to know their status, and stressed that early detection saves lives.

She urged residents in the state to stop stigmatising people living with HIV/AIDS, adding that people should abstain from premarital sex, while women should be cautious at salons and beauty parlours.

Executive Director, EDOSACA, Mrs Flora Oyakhilome, explained that “knowing one’s status is the entry for care and support as it is important for people to get tested.” She said the theme 'Know Your Status' was chosen by the WHO, as it reflects the thrust of the exercise in the state.

She assured that the state government will sustain the exercise which would last for three months across six points in the state, including Ring Road, Ramat Park, Ekiosa Market axis, Santana Market, Evbotubu and Oluku.

A public health practitioner and Chairman, EDOSACA Board, Dr. Alex Okoh, said that the objective of the exercise is to ensure that the coverage of the population as far as the HIV Testing Services (HTS) is concerned is improved, as this will help to check the number of and provide support for people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.

He also said that the exercise would give the people easy access to HIV testing services, urging residents of the state to get tested. He admonished those living with the virus to live a better life by seeking medical care and doing the needful to live right.


PHOTO 1:
Representative of the Wife of Edo State Governor and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen (2nd left); Executive Director, Edo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EDOSACA), Mrs Flora Oyakhilome (2nd right); Chairman, EDOSACA board, Dr. Alex Ohoh (left); and Comrade Obaseki Kehinde at the flag-off of the Sensitisation Campaign themed, ‘Know Your Status,’ to commemorate the 2018 World AIDS Day, in Benin City, Edo State on Friday, November 30, 2018.

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PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, with pupils of Emotan Primary School in Benin City, Edo State, Thursday, November 29, 2018, during a visit to the school. With them are the chairman and members of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed his administration’s resolve to commence refurbishment of public schools in the state, urging for support and cooperation of the School-Based Management Committees.

He disclosed this during a training for School-Based Management Committee of Emotan Primary School in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday.

Obaseki said that government will work in agreement with the committee, communities and other relevant stakeholders on the refurbishment of schools, noting, “President Muhammadu Buhari through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has provided enough fund to embark on this purpose. Massive revamp will commence in the state soon.”

The governor said the School-Based Management Committees will include members of the communities, parents and stakeholders in the governance and administration of schools across the state, as they will act as catalysts for progress.

He added that his administration has decided to revamp the state’s basic education system, noting, “If I achieved nothing as governor of Edo State, I want it to be on record that I came and turned around the basic education system in Edo State for good.”

He continued, “the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme was introduced to enable us go back to the foundation which must be solid as this will enable our children to face the challenges ahead. What is taught in the first six to nine years of education will certainly affect the child, as it will become difficult to cope with the challenges of life if they get it wrong at that level.”

The governor maintained that for such a system to work, the schools must be run properly, and the headteachers should be able to monitor the teachers daily using Information Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets.

“We can't play politics with education and the lives of our children. The whole idea of creating multiple schools to have multiple headteachers is not right. We can't have three schools in one premise; it will not work. For those schools that need to be merged, we will merge them and continue to train our teachers and improve their welfare.”

Interacting with pupils of Emotan Primary School, Governor Obaseki reassured them that the state government will commence the school feeding programme of the Federal Government in the school next term.

Welcoming the governor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and the Chairman, State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said the training is going on in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Orhionmwon Local Government Areas, adding that the exercise will commence in Uhunmwode Local Government Area next week.

“All together, we have trained about 11,638 School-Based Management Committees across the state,” she added.

Chairman of School-Based Management Committee and Chairman, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Emotan Primary School, Deacon Richard Asemota, said the PTA improved three offices of the school’s headmistresses with electricity.

He added that they have also put in place a sickbay in the school as well as constructed gates to check incursion of hoodlums into the school.



PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left) addressing members of the School-Based Management Committee of Emotan Primary School, Benin City, during a training session for the committee, on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

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PHOTO 2:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. (right); and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele (left), on Irhirhi Road, during the governor’s inspection of ongoing road projects in Benin City, Edo State.

…as Edo gets road maintenance agency

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed his commitment to bridging infrastructure gap in Benin City as well as other parts of the state, noting that urban renewal projects will ensure adequate infrastructure is provided to open up different parts of the state.

The governor said this when he inspected ongoing road projects in Obakhavbaye, Basimi, Arala, Okunbor, Asemota and Burmar streets as well as the construction of Irhirhi Road in Benin City.

Meanwhile, the governor has set aside N42.719 billion for infrastructural development in the proposed 2019 budget. He has also set modalities to set up a road maintenance agency in the state to ensure prompt intervention when roads go bad.

During the road inspection, Obaseki was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq, Chief of Staff to the governor, Taiwo Akerele, Special Adviser on Political and Community Affairs Chief Osaro Idah, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. Osahon Amiolemen and other top government functionaries.

The governor said he was impressed with the work done so far on the roads inspected, especially the Irhirhi Road, noting “I have been told that the first 4km of the Irhirhi Road construction will be completed before Christmas which means that people living on this portion of the road will enjoy the road as the area will be accessible."

He added that with the huge population expected in the area, there is the possibility of expanding the road at the entrance, while alternative routes may be constructed to accommodate the influx of people.

“We have embarked on massive reconstruction of roads across the city in the last two weeks. We have mobilised contractors across the larger Benin Metropolitan area as we are rehabilitating over 100 roads. Work is also ongoing in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts.”

Obaseki said the key challenge in road construction in the city is that of the environment as the area, a rainforest zone, used to hold water better with trees and other features that cover the soil. He noted that due to the massive deforestation, the soil barely holds water anymore.

"We will build more drainages as new roads being constructed now have drainages to take out all the water. But for the populated areas, we will look for innovative solutions".

Senior Residence Engineer at the site, Fate Oneavbiene, said the road construction will go through Irhirhi, Aruogba, Obazagbon, Obagie-N'Evbuosa, Ogheghe.

He explained that the road is a link road between Benin - Sapele Road and Airport Road. "The take-off point is by Airport Road by ADP junction while the project will terminate at Benin - Sapele Road. The project is 18.5km long.”

The governor who announced the creation of a road agency during the 2019 budget proposal presentation at the state House of Assembly, said, “Much as we are intensifying effort to complete reconstruction of roads across the state, we are also ready to commence new ones to close the infrastructure gap in the state. Work on the roads will be ramped up during the dry season. Other necessary infrastructure to complement our investment drive will also be catered for. As a result, N42.719 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure development to drive economic activities.

“One area of emphasis will be maintenance. A road maintenance agency will be set up and properly funded to ensure prompt intervention and save the huge cost of repair and damage.

Source: http://thebellng.com/road-construction-obaseki-inspects-obakhavbaye-irhirhi-roads-others/

PHOTO 1:
L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. Osahon Amiolemen; and Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., on Obakhavbaye Street, during the governor’s inspection of ongoing road projects in Benin City, Edo State.

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…capital expenditure to gulp N95.8bn, Recurrent Expenditure gets N79.9bn

…infrastructure, education, health, industrialisation, pension, security top priorities

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill with plans to spend a total of N175.7 billion in the 2019 fiscal year, broken into: Capital Expenditure, N95.8 billion and Recurrent Expenditure, N79.9 billion.

Presenting the 2019 Budget Estimates to a session of the Edo State House of Assembly in Benin City, the state capital, Obaseki said: “our budget size for 2019 fiscal year is N175.7 billion, which is a 9.20 per cent nominal increase from the 2018 budget. This budget comprises N79.9 billion for Recurrent and N95.8 billion for Capital expenditures.

He explained that “The revenue estimates for the budget are based on a $60 per barrel bench mark for crude oil at an average daily production of 2.3m barrels per day as well as an increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), as a result of reforms in revenue collection in the state.”

The governor assured that “The 2019 budget christened ‘Budget of Socio-Economic Inclusion’ will propel us closer to the Edo of our dreams, after we have weathered the shocks from different economic headwinds in the last two years.”

On the areas that will receive priority attention, he told the Assembly that “Consolidating on the gains from the last two years, we intend to keep prioritising capital spending. We propose a capital/recurrent expenditure ratio of (54.5%:45.5%) which demonstrates our commitment to fortify the economy and our people for sustained growth.”

According to Obaseki, “the 2019 budget proposal “Reflects this administration’s intention to promote social inclusion and economic empowerment for Edo citizens, through the deepening of investments in socio-economic, governance and security infrastructure; and through the implementation of initiatives that guarantee equal access to education, health care and social protection.

He highlighted the focus of 2019 budget proposal as: Continued investment in the rehabilitation of existing (and the development of new) socio-economic infrastructure; Strengthen internal capacity for project execution & governance; Scale up investments in socio-welfare enhancement programmes (in education, healthcare and rural development); Continued investment in programmes/projects for job creation particularly through Industrialisation, Agriculture, and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) development as well as Enhanced investment in Security and Administration of Justice.”

He noted that the 2019 budget proposal reflects his administration’s “unflinching commitment to our people and their social, economic and infrastructural wellbeing, which explains why a significant aspect of the capital expenditure is allocated for infrastructural projects, stimulate socio-economic growth, provide quality education, health care and boost wealth creation to ensure our people reap the benefits from increased investment.”

The governor added that: “Our big-ticket projects, including the Benin Industrial Park, the Benin River Port and Edo Modular Refinery Project, are well on course. N3 billion has been set aside as the contribution of the state as initial investment commitment for the Benin Industrial Park, the necessary preliminary works are ongoing and in no distant time, the first set of companies will set up shops to provide jobs and services in the state.

“One of the priority areas of the proposed 2019 capital expenditure framework is to strengthen internal capacity for project execution and governance with a view to achieving 80 per cent closure rate on all ongoing projects.

“Much as we are intensifying effort to complete reconstruction of roads across the state, we are also ready to commence new ones to close the infrastructure gaps in the state. Work on the roads will be ramped up during the dry season. Other necessary infrastructure to complement our investment drive will also be catered for. As a result, N42.719 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure development to drive economic activities.

“One area of emphasis will be maintenance. A road maintenance agency will be set up and properly funded to ensure prompt intervention and save the huge cost of repair and damage.

“We are also scaling up government investment in socio-welfare enhancement programmes in basic education, primary healthcare and rural development.

“On healthcare, N9.328 billion has been earmarked to consolidate on the gains in the sector, including support for the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP), which is targeted at overhauling the primary health care system and setting up modern, solar-powered, efficient Primary Healthcare Centers across the state.

“The sum of N1.7 billion has been set aside for primary healthcare reforms. With this, we will be inching closer to the planned 200 PHCs to be sited in wards across the state.

“In order to provide funds for our reform in healthcare, we currently save 1 per cent of our statutory allocation to the state and local governments and N960 million is expected to be raised from this and channelled to the health sector.

“With the commitment to increase access to quality healthcare, N120 million has been set aside for the Edo Health Insurance Commission, which will be birthed in 2019 fiscal year.

“In education, the state has taken giant strides by building an army of digital teachers to prepare our children for the new age of education, one characterised by the far-reaching impact of technology.

“As a result, we have proposed N26.8 billion, representing 15.3 percent of the total budget size. It will cater for needs in first and foremost, basic education, which will gulp N6.4 billion. This will deepen the reforms in the sub-sector, provide quality and reliable basic education and prepare our children for the future.

“The reforms in other tiers of education, such as the restructuring of the college of agriculture into a tri-campus institution as well as other such initiatives in other secondary and tertiary institutions will be given priority.

“Specifically, N1.98 billion has been set aside for the restructuring of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Each of the three campuses are now being tailored to develop manpower with skills to take advantage of the agroecological endowments of the senatorial districts where they are sited.

“Our efforts at expanding the state’s economic base will receive a major boost this year as we plan to spend N7.007 billion on investment promotion, which will help bring to fruition a number of our investment initiatives. Through this, we intend to provide guarantee for investments from the private sector, match funding for projects, and provide the right environment for investors to come on board.

“Considering the nexus between investment and security, we will reinforce our security architecture with N2 billion which will be contributed to the State Security Trust Fund. We expect that well-meaning Edo citizens and corporate bodies will also contribute to this fund towards ensuring improved safety of lives and property within the state.

On job creation, the governor said: “We are poised to realise 50,000 new jobs from ongoing initiatives in Agriculture, Services, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) sectors.

“The emphasis of this administration on the enthronement of law and order will be consolidated in this budget year. We will focus on enhancing security and administration of justice, for which we have earmarked N0.967 billion to the Judiciary, Law Reform Commission and the Ministry of Justice. This will enhance the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration, deepen our judicial reforms and ensure that everyone, regardless of social or economic standing, is treated fairly before the law.

“All these are critical to our overall vision of unleashing the investment potentials and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the state. As you all know, businesses cannot thrive in an atmosphere of chaos. This is why we are strengthening institutions that promote law and order to guarantee faith in the system and, at the same time, protect the rights of everyone.

“To fulfill our commitment towards making Edo the culture capital of West Africa, we have earmarked N500 million in 2019 budget to commence the development and construction of the Benin Royal Museum. This will be done in collaboration with the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Ogidigan.

“An entertainment park that will host the creative arts, film and television productions, is being embarked upon. It is designed to tap into the fast-growing industry by harnessing the creative talent of the Edo people, attract investment and create jobs. To this end, N500 million has been set aside for the project.

“We continue to appreciate the labour of our senior citizens whose sweat built our state and its institutions. Therefore, we take the issue of pension payment as our utmost priority. In 2018, we have spent N8 billion in pension payment. We plan to spend another N9 billion to pay pension, gratuity as well as arrears owed from previous years.

Reviewing economic developments in the outgoing year, (Domestic Macroeconomic highlight 2018), Obaseki explained that “In the first six months of 2018, the Nigerian economy recorded improvements that were engendered by increasing business activities, rising oil prices in the global market, increased domestic oil output and declining inflation.

“As a result of uncertainties which were triggered by the late passage of the federal budget, GDP growth rate slowed down from 2.11 per cent in the last quarter of 2017 to 1.94 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Economic activities however remained buoyant, with manufacturing purchasing manager’s index (PMI) as measured by CBN, closing at 56.8 in October from 56.3 in February 2018. (The PMI is an indicator of economic health for manufacturing and service sectors of the national economy).

“Our expectation for growth in 2019 is an expansion of 2.5% in GDP, an improvement over the expected growth of 2.1% in 2018. While crude oil price may decline, we hope that the increase in oil production to 2.3mb/d due to additional output from areas like the Egina field, will sustain growth in the oil sector.

“In the non-oil sector, we expect a sustained positive performance in manufacturing and services due to higher consumer spending (as higher government revenues which are ensuring the settlement of outstanding salary obligations across states and a new minimum wage, will boost household income). In agriculture, we expect a boost in 2019 as governments move to enhance stability and productivity in this sector.

On Inflationary Trends, he said: “By the end of fiscal 2018, we expect inflation to average 12.3% monthly, an improvement from 16.5% in 2017.

“Experts forecast a slight deceleration in inflation to 11.0% in fiscal 2019, as the results of various Presidential initiatives around food security, petrol and electricity supply/pricing begin to materialise.

On External Reserves and Exchange Rates, the governor noted that, “In 2018, stability and convergence in exchange rates has been achieved and sustained.

“Although we’ve experienced pressure on external reserves due to capital flow reversals resulting from higher interest rates in advanced economies, political risks domestically and increased interventions by the CBN to keep rates stable; our external reserves has grown from about $29 billion in May 2015 to about $48 billion in May 2018.

“With expected proceeds of US$2.9bn from the latest Eurobonds issuance, we believe the CBN has more room to maintain stability. Hence, we expect exchange rates to trade around the current rates of N360.0-365.0/US$1 in both the parallel market and the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) window.

“In 2019, we believe exchange rates will remain stable as we experience growth in external reserves, consolidate on the implementation of our Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement with China and receive the foreign portfolio investments likely to flow into the capital market post 2019 elections.”


SOURCE: http://thebellng.com/obaseki-presents-n175-7bn-budget-proposal-for-2019-to-edo-assembly/


PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, exchanging pleasantries with the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, after presenting the 2019 Budget Estimate, christened ‘Budget of Socio-Economic Inclusion,’ to a session of the Assembly, in Benin City, Edo State, on Monday, November 26, 2018.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that his administration will continue to advance policies and programmes to protect young girls, women and other vulnerable groups in the state.

The governor gave the assurance in commemoration of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, marked by the United Nations every November 25.

He said that the state had suffered adversely from the exploitation of women, especially by human traffickers, noting that the state’s campaign against the menace is yielding fruits.

According to him, “With appropriate legislations, support of the judiciary, collaboration with civil rights organisations and donor agencies, the state government has continued to protect young girls and women. Our dogged commitment to this cause has resulted in the setting up of the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT). We have the legal structures to prosecute crimes against women and other vulnerable groups in the society.”

Noting that this year’s theme Orange the World: #HearMeToo resonates with the state’s commitment to protecting women, he added, “women and girls in any part of the state are urged to speak up against any form of violence against them. We will not relent in addressing issues that infringe on their rights.”

“The state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Ministry of Justice have been equipped to deal with issues bothering on violence of any form against women and vulnerable groups in the state. The judiciary has demonstrated this with the sentencing of child molesters who are serving various jail terms,” he added.

According to the governor, “Teachers are being trained through the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) Programme to identify children who are victims of violence in homes and we are doing our best to curtail such occurrence.

“The state government has a standing taskforce that oversees the reduction of instances of illegal migration and has implemented law against human traffickers. We have continued with rehabilitation programme for victims and have made it a policy not to condemn those who were deceived by perpetrators of gender-based violence.”

According to the UN, the 2018 theme is Orange the World: #HearMeToo and the date marks the launch of 16 days of activism that will be rounded off on 10 December 2018, the International Human Rights Day.

Source: http://thebellng.com/obaseki-assures-on-protecting-young-girls-women-vulnerable-people/

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...as stakeholders brainstorm on 2019 - 2021 MTEF

The Edo State Government has projected a positive economic outlook for the state between 2019 and 2021, as reforms across different sectors of the economy by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is expected to drive investments and fast-track job creation in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic and Development Planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, made the submission in a presentation on the Edo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2019 to 2021, during a Consultative Forum on the MTEF, held at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

Eboigbe noted that key features of the state government's programmes in the last three years were educational reforms, investment in infrastructure and institutional strengthening, which grew the state's economy by 1.5 per cent in 2018.

He said growth will slow down by one per cent in 2019 due to the elections but will rise again in 2020 to 1.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent in 2021, noting, "Unemployment is projected to gradually decline in the medium term as investment promotion efforts begin to yield results. Hence, number of unemployed people will drop from 18 per cent (756,000) in 2018 to 11.8 per cent (531,000) in 2021."

Eboigbe noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration is set to transform the state into an industrial hub in the South-South through the development of industrial clusters and free trade zones.

"Edo State Government has created 77,200 jobs from 2017-2018. It forecasts to create 50,000 jobs in 2019, 75,000 in 2020 and 100,000 in 2021," he added.

Declaring the forum open, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the state, Hajiya Mariam Abubakar, said the MTEF is aimed at providing an informed basis for budgeting from 2019 to 2021.

She said the forum was held to re-emphasise the need for efficient and effective allocation of available resources to strategic projects and programmes, adding that the MTEF will guide all stakeholders on decision making with respect to the direction of public expenditure.

According to her, "Budget implementation has continued to focus on the core priority sectors of infrastructure, education, health, job creation and investment in the economy of the state."

Abubakar said that the forum will facilitate feedback from the public as the budgetary process is about people, noting "The input of the people is needed to enable the government capture the needs of the people in terms of programmes and projects that will drive and stimulate the economy of the state."


PHOTO 1:
L-R: Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Edorodion Erimona; Commissioner for Budget, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar; Executive Chairman, Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA), Isoken Omo; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, during a Consultative Forum on the Edo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), held at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.