Ogun 2020 Appropriation Bill Scales Second Reading
Ogun State House of Assembly today unanimously supported the N449.974billion 2020 Appropriation Bill bill submitted to it by the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, describing it as a financial instrument that would address the infrastructural deficit, provide job opportunities, social security, youth development and aid investment.
The lawmakers spoke at the plenary presided over by Speaker Olakunle Oluomo, shortly after the motion for the second reading of the bill was moved by the Majority leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by the Minority Leader, Ganiyu Oyedeji and supported by the Whole House through a voice vote.
Opening debate on the bill, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Olakunle Sobukanla, noted that the bill covered and addressed core indices of development including health, infrastructure, education and social security amongst others.
All the lawmakers who contributed to the debate on the bill including the Majority Leader, Hon. Sheriff and the Minority Leader, Hon. Oyedeji agreed that it was put together in line with the international best practices in public finance, admitting that it gave room for due diligence through the promotion of prudency, probity and accountability.
They stated that the bill made critical provisions for the needs of the people, while seeking for even spread of all projects listed in the budget to all parts of the State to promote inclusiveness, they also canvassed for an effective and efficient budget implementation for the benefit of the people of the State.
According to the lawmakers, relevant provisions of the budget as explained at the just concluded Budget Retreat for the Honourable members in Ogere, indicated that the fiscal instrument was well designed to address socio-economic and Infrastructural challenges confronting the State, while creating an avenue for effective budget implementation mechanisms to aid quality service delivery in all sectors of the State economy.
Responding, the Speaker thanked his colleague-lawmakers for their robust contributions to the debate on the bill, saying that having interacted with the various experts on budget issues at the last budget retreat, the lawmakers were better informed on the provisions and principles of the budget and thereafter committed the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative actions.
It would be recalled that barely a week ago, Governor Dapo Abiodun had presented a budget proposal of N449.974billion for 2020 financial year to the State lawmakers. christened ” Budget to Build Our Future Together” at a plenary presided over by Speaker,Rt. Olakunle Oluomo at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan. According to the Governor, the annual fiscal estimate was targeted at reflecting the present administration’s determination to deliver on its electoral promises to the people.
Giving the breakdown of the budget, the Governor explained that N269.132Bn representing (60.31%) was proposed for capital projects, with N180.842Bn (39.69%) set aside for recurrent expenditure, adding that salaries and allowances stood at N83.238Bn. He further noted that pension and gratuities would take N25.94Bn representing 18% of total expenditure with the balance of N71.659Bn resulting in 16% of the total budget earmarked for overhead cost.
Governor Abiodun said that government would formulate policy thrust for the holistic actualization of the budget towards localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the public- private partnership initiatives, having put in place a mechanism for a workable public financial management system to eliminate leakages at ensuring efficient and judicious use of the State’s wealth.
