Governor Okowa Advises Expansion Of Revenue Sources For Education

The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has advised the expansion of revenue sources for education to reduce the issue of funding the development of the education sector.

Okowa gave the advice on Monday after assessing the facilities of Faculties of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Owa-Alero Campus, University of Delta, Agbor.

Okowa added that the country needed to improve the education section through the provision of infrastructure, equipment, human resource, and internet services in universities across the country.

He further said the economy of the country was challenged which is affecting the funding of the sector.

“If you look at the national budget and most of the state budgets, you will find out that the Federal and State Governments are actually struggling.

“When you have so many competing forces to deal with in an annual budget, you try to put little funds across.

“Because, in the first instance, you have to ensure that you pay salaries and if at the end you have little left, then it is a major problem.

“Whenever I study the Federal Government budget, l feel very worried about the huge challenge we have as a nation.

“This is because you find out that every single kobo that is going into infrastructure development or capital development is actually borrowed,’’ Okowa said.

He added that all resources going into recurrent expenditure posed a problem in the country.

"And that is why if you study the budget in full at the federal level in the individual sector such as education and health; there are very huge funds available for recurrent expenditure because of the payment of salaries.

“At the end, you only have between 10 to 15 or maximum 20 percent for capital development; this in itself is a very huge problem,’’ the Governor expressed.

He also gave the importance of prioritising sectors that require more attention in the country.

“I think it requires a lot of work and a lot of prioritisation to deal with the sectors that are most important.

“All sectors are important but some sectors are definitely more important than others.

“So, it requires a genuine analysis of what we are doing at the moment and then have a rethink to be able to take us to where we ought to be,” Okowa added.

He added that the faculties in the university had been accredited by National University Commission and that lectures had since begun on the campus.