The Delta Government says it is planning a leaner budget, with emphasis on completing ongoing projects, expanding infrastructure and avoiding fresh borrowing.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, disclosed this while outlining the proposed budget priorities during engagement with residents on Friday in Asaba.
Ekedayen said the decision to scale down the budget was informed by the need to align expenditure with revenue the state could realistically mobilise.
He said the proposed budget would retain a 65 per cent allocation to capital expenditure and 35 per cent to recurrent expenditure.
According to him, priority would be given to completing ongoing projects before embarking on new ones.
He said the government would also undertake high-impact projects, particularly roads, to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities across communities.
The commissioner said the government would consolidate existing programmes and ensure that previously abandoned projects were completed and put to effective use.
He added that social intervention programmes would also feature in the budget to promote inclusiveness and improve the welfare of economically disadvantaged residents.
On the budget assumptions, Ekedayen said the state is projecting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 4.7 per cent.
He listed other assumptions as an interest rate of 14 per cent, daily crude oil production of 1.7 million barrels and an exchange rate of N1,350 to the dollar.
Ekedayen said the government is targeting an increase in internally generated revenue to N350 billion.
He expressed confidence that the target was achievable through improved revenue mobilisation and effective management of available resources.
The commissioner said the government had no plans to borrow, adding that available resources would be sufficient to execute its proposed programmes.
He said projects across ministries, departments and agencies would receive attention, with emphasis on infrastructure development and welfare of residents.
He also commended efforts to deploy information technology in revenue generation and governance.