Gov. Diri signs 2025 budget into law
By Bassey Williams, Yenagoa
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has officially signed the 2025 appropriation bill passed by the state House of Assembly into law.
On October 31, 2024, Governor Diri had presented an initial budget estimate of N689,440,348,916.30 to the Assembly. However, the Assembly increased the estimate by N10,132,818,675, bringing the total budget to N699,573,167,592.
During the signing ceremony at Government House, Yenagoa, on Monday, Governor Diri stated that the signing of the bill before the end of the current year aligned with his administration’s policy of operating its budget between January and December. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
The Governor emphasised that the budget was not just a financial document but a law that must be effectively implemented. He praised the Speaker and members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for their timely passage of the budget, expressing satisfaction with their performance and urging them to continue their dedicated service to the state.
Governor Diri further directed all ministries, departments, and agencies of government to ensure their proposals are in line with the approved budget, expressing optimism that the budget would positively impact the lives of Bayelsa’s residents.
He said, “Today, in line with our policy, we have gone through all the processes to have our budget, and I am honoured to sign this appropriation bill tagged ‘Budget of Assured Prosperity’ into law. With the signing of this budget, I reaffirm my administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance.”
He continued, “We have prioritised critical sectors that will enhance the quality of life for our people. Our projects must have a real impact on the lives of our people.”
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, affirmed that the 2025 budget estimates had been thoroughly scrutinised and passed in the best interest of the state. He noted that after careful deliberation, the Assembly had increased the original budget figure by 1.5 percent, stating that if implemented, the budget could transform the state’s economic fortunes.
Ingobere also expressed gratitude to the Governor for making resources available to train and retrain institutions, which has led to increased productivity, and assured the executive of a continued strong working relationship in 2025.
