MDAs Begin 2024 Budget Defence
By Awodeyi Elizabeth
All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Ondo State, today, 22nd of December, 2023 began budget defense of the year 2024.
The Budget was presented by the Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, yesterday.
While declaring the budget defence open, the speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji noted that the Budget Defence is in line with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), that makes it statutory for every Government to present its yearly Appropriation Bill before the Legislature whose members are the direct representatives of the people for Legislative consideration and ratification.
He added that the content of every budget no doubt, has great impact on the lives of everybody in the society.
He stressed that the budget christened “Economic Resilience” is geared towards further consolidation of numerous on-going programmes/projects of the present administration.
“The rationale behind this is to further accelerate the pace of socio-economic transformation, improve security network and development of our dear State to an enviable height which Mr. Governor envisions as well as to collatborate with local and foreign donor Agencies, development partners and to continually identify with the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu (GCFR)”.
“It is our expectation at this end, as an arm of Government (the Legislature ) that all stakeholders will co-operate maximally with the State Government towards achieving this great goal aimed at improving the lives of the people at the end of the day”.
The Speaker commended Members of House for their efforts in the outgoing year 2023, especially, in the areas of oversight activities which has provided a good template to review the Budget performance of MDAS, and provided insight into both the achievements and challenges that characterized the activities of Government in this Fiscal year.
“I am very confident that this year’s exercise just like the previous ones, shall be very fruitful if we all play our part as sincerely as possible in the interest of our dear State, which I believe is the essence of our gathering here today”.
Earlier in his welcome address Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi stated that the budget defense is one of the most significant Constitutional rights accorded to the Legislature as entrenched in the Constítution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended)
“We all know that it is the very first Appropriation Bil the Tenth Assembly will be considering, it is therefore behove on us to colectively take conscious efforts to concentrate on issue that actualy dominate our present concern, our vision, hopes as well as our aspirations for the State.
“Let me bring to memory that the 2023 budget tagged “Budget of Shared Prosperity” which was performing until the total removal of fuel subsidy that led to dramatic change in parameters earlier used for the said budget.
“It is our hope that 2024 Appropriation of N384,533,000,000.00 broken into N172,518,140,353.00 for Recurrent and N212,014,859, 647.00 for Capital Expenditure that is aimed at Cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal cover the imminent wage increase for workers as well as control the floating exchange rate will lived to its billing”.
He stressed that the Committee will painstakingly strive very hard to have a workable, feasible and a pragmatic Budgeting in all Ministries. Departments, Establishments, Tertiary Institutions and Agencies.
“There is the need to contribute our quota positively towards the attainnent of a very visionary Budget for our dear State which will ensure that there is a great commitment of service to humanity.
“Be assured that as distinguished Honourable Members, We shall continue to uphold the provisions of the constitution in its entirety while working through the Budget Proposal bearing in mind the Socio-economic
development of our State”.
Among the MDAs that defended their budget today were, Office of the Deputy Governor, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Agric, Ministry of Physicalt planning, Office of the Head of Service, Ondo State Local Government Service Commission, Owena Press Ltd.
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