Mohammed Shosanya
Ondo State of House of Assembly has passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the tune of N395,257,000,000.
The state Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has signed same into law as soon as it was passed by the Assembly.
The budget tagged: “Budget of Economic Resilience,” was passed and signed by the Assembly and the govrrnor respectively on Friday.
After adopting the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, presented by its Chairman, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, during the plenary session, the lawmakers unanimously passed the Appropriation Bill.
The new Governor,Lucky Aiyedatiwa, when running the affairs of the state in acting capacity, had earlier in the month presented a N385 billion Appropriation Bill to the House.
In his comment after the passage of the Bill, Ogunmolasuyi, representing Owo Constituency 1/APC, said that the estimate passed for the 2024 fiscal year by the Assembly was higher than what the governor presented by over N10,734,000,000
He said: “The committee after an interface with Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs) for defence of their respective estimates amended the original bill and recommended N395 billion.
“The state government should take necessary steps to ensure that internally generated revenue is sustained and improved and that the budget meets the needs of Ondo State.
“The Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and Ministry of Finance in conjunction with the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service ( ODIRS) should ensure that they boost revenue of the state with details of extant laws.”
The bill was read for the third time by the clerk of the House, Mr. Benjamin Jayeola, as directed by the Speaker of the House of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji.
The Speaker said if the Bill is signed into law, it would turn around the state and trigger development and growth.
He said that with the bill when signed into law, the governor would be well equipped to serve the people of the state and deliver dividends of democracy.
After signing the bill into law, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said: “As we keep implementing people-centered projects and programmes in line with our Redeemed Agenda, we would continue to improve on our revenue drive while cutting down on our recurrent costs in view of the prevailing economic realities.
“The focus of this budget as said in my Budget Speech, is human capital development. Emphasis would also be placed on climate change, clean and sustainable environment, rural development and food security while on-going legacy infrastructural projects of our dear departed Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON would be completed. Furthermore, we would keep meeting salary, pension and gratuity obligations to our serving and retired officers, as applicable.
“I wish to therefore, solicit for the continuous understanding and cooperation of our people. I understand the temporary pains occasioned by the recent petrol subsidy removal. This Administration would continue to put measures in place to cushion the effects until we are able to weather through the storm, hopefully shortly.
“Finally, I solicit the prayers of all for the family of our departed beloved Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON and also for the government in this difficult moment. May God Almighty comfort the family and our state.”
