He said that the budgetary approval for the ministry in 2018 stood at N1.525 billion, but said that the ministry received N500 million.

He said that the amount covered payments for projects executed during the period and represented 32.8 per cent budget performance.

The commissioner also said that the ministry had an outstanding commitment, totalling N4.1 billion from 2016 to date.

He expressed the hope that the amount would be accommodated in the 2019 budget.

Takeme said that the ministry was given a N1 billion ceiling for new capital projects in 2019, adding  that 13 critical areas had been identified for attention in 2019 fiscal year.

He also spoke on the ministry’s internally generated revenue, saying that the ministry generated N3.4 million through Tender Fees as at Nov. 5, 2018.

He thanked the committee for its support to the ministry and solicited increased cooperation between the ministry and the House.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Oboro Preyor, urged the officials of the ministry to be mindful of the Fiscal Responsibility Law and State Procurement Laws.

He further advised them not to embark on any expenditure not appropriated for in the 2018 Appropriation Law.

He assured the ministry that the committee would look into the documents submitted to it and make necessary inputs in line with the policy objectives of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration.

Preyor, who is Deputy Majority Leader of the House, representing Bomadi Constituency, promised that the committee would continue to partner the ministry for optimal results.