From left: Dr Michael Tidi, Chairman, Warri South Council Area, presenting the 2019 appropriation bill to Leader of the house, Kingsley Edafiadjebre on Thursday.

By Francis Sadhere, Warri

Chairman of Warri South Council Area of Delta State, Dr Michael on Thursday presented N4,947,068,828.51 (Four Billion, Nine Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Sixty Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira and Fifty One Kobo) 2019 appropriation bill to the legislative arm of the council at the chamber.

Tidi tagged the 2019 appropriation bill: ‘Budget of Consolidation Bill.’

The Warri South Council boss said last year he promised the people that his administration was determined to change the narrative of Warri from negativity in all sector of the economy, to positivity.

He said his administration’s effort has paid off, mostly as result of the gains of the first ever ‘Warri Economic Summit’ organized by the council and tagged “Warri Rising’ held May last year.

He said that the once moribund Warri Ports would soon be a beehive of activities following the concession of a section of the port to Sifax Group by the Federal government.

In the proposed budget, the economic sector as well as the administrative, social and health sectors gulped the highest shares, with the amount allocated to the education sector being the lowest.

Tidi said, “We will be improving their on the gains we have achieved thus far and will work more on security, provision of portable water, rehabilitation of schools, provision medical equipment facilities for our primary health care centres and ensure a clean and environment for our people.

“We will expand the tax net of the council thereby growing our internally generated revenue; by this I do not mean more tax burden on our people but to look at for those who have been evading tax and compel them to be enrolled into the council’s tax regime, whereby extra funds will be generated to fund our developmental project across the wards,” Tidi said.

He said he was confident that the 2019 appropriation bill will rejig and boost the economy of the council, adding that it will also boost the council position and make it investors destination.

Tidi saluted the doggednes, tenacity and commitment the legislative arm of the council to the ideal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which according to him, made it possible for them to deliver all their candidates in the just concluded National and State elections.

Tidi, however implored the councilors to deploy the same spirit of love shown to the PDP and the people of Warri South to expeditiously consider the budget proposal.

The Leader of the legislative arm of the council, Kingsley Edafiadjebre said they were committed to giving the electorate excellent delivery of service.

Edafiadjebre commended the chairman, the executive members and the management team for all the laudable projects which are visible to all since the inception of the current administration.

The leader also expressed his appreciation to all the party leaders and people for their co-operation while promising quick delivery of the budget as planned.