Delta Government has called on Federal Government to pay its counterpart fund for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Delta.

Dr Andy Ilabore, the Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), made the call in Asaba at the 2019 budget defence meeting with the State Assembly Committee on Special Duties.

Ilabore told the House Committee that the N600 million was meant to enhance the implementation of SDGs in the state.

He said that the state released its share of N600 million counterparts funding for the Conditional Grant Scheme amounting to N1.2 billion and his office achieved 50 per cent of the year target and recommended that both the State and the Federal Government should take critical steps to actualise the 2019 counterpart funding.

Also, the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Ernest Ogwezzy, in his presentation said that the Bureau achieved 49 per cent of the 2018 budget implementation.

Similarly, Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor, Dr Duke Okezie, who also presented his scorecard, stated that the directorate recorded 9.67 per cent performance for recurrent expenditure.

According to him, four per cent budget performance has also been recorded for capital expenditure in the 2018 budget by the directorate.

Responding, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Mr Emeka Nwaobi, said that the budget defence meeting was for the State Assembly to scrutinise proposed budget of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The governor’s aide said the action of the committee was in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.

(NAN)