OGUN ASSEMBLY PASSES 2019 APPROPRIATION BILL, THREE OTHERS

Barely thirty-six days after the presentation of the N402.63bn Budget of Enduring Legacy to the Legislative arm by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the Ogun State House of Assembly has passed the sum of N400bn as the 2019 Appropriation Bill for the State, with a reduction of about N2.632bn from the budget earlier presented.

The passage of the bill was sequel to the presentation of the report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee by its Chairman, Hon. Victor Fasanya, who thereafter moved the motion for its adoption, which was seconded by the Chief Whip, Idowu Olowofuja and supported by the whole House through a voice vote, at a plenary presided over by Speaker Suraju Ishola Adekunbi, at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Bill was thereafter read clause- by- clause by the Speaker before the members, after which the motion for the third reading was moved by the Minority Leader, Olawale Alausa and seconded by Hon. Akinpelu Aina, subsequently, the Clerk of the House, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu did the third reading of the bill.

The budget proposal was passed with slight adjustments of some agencies, which led to an increment of N1.088bn in the fund initially allocated for recurrent expenditure that was moved from N125.07bn to N126.165bn, while capital expenditure was reduced by N3.720bn, moving from initial N254.055bn to N250.334b.

Further breakdown of the total budget indicated that expected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) moved from initial over N161.244bn to N159.244bn, giving a difference of N2bn, while statutory allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT), expected refund from Federal Government remained as presented by Governor Amosun.

In addition, capital receipt of N101.388bn was slashed to N100.755bn, giving a difference of over N632m.

Commending his colleague lawmakers and the entire members of staff for their support and steadfastness at ensuring the speedy passage of the bill, Speaker Adekunbi directed that the clean copy of the bill be sent to the Governor for his assent.

It would be recalled that the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Adekunbi had since 2011 been passing the fiscal year budget presented by Governor Amosun before the end of each outgoing year, as part of its resolve to ensure timely implementation of the budget, for the spread of more democratic dividends to the people of the State.

In a related development, the Assembly equally passed three bills including Ogun State Legislative Funds Management Law, 2018- A bill for a law to make provision for the House of Assembly Legislative funds management and other Matters connected therewith and the Ogun State House of Assembly Service Commission Law 2018- A bill for a law to provide for the Establishment of the Ogun State House of Assembly Service Commission and other matters connected therewith, as well as the Statutory Offices (State Emoluments) (Amendment) Law, 2018- A Bill for a law to amend the Statutory Offices (State Emoluments) Law, 2012.

Jamiu Lawal
Press Officer, OGHA