The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed the exact figure of N350,735,149,739.57 contained in the 2022 budget with adjustments in some recurrent and or capital estimates of about 182 agencies as presented by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The budget was passed sequel to the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation by its Chairman, Hon. Olakunle Sobunkanla, during the plenary presided over by the Speaks, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, at the Assembly Complex, Oke Mosan Abeokuta.
The passage of the Bill was consequent upon the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation by its Chairman, Hon. Olakunle Sobunkanla, who thereafter moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by his Vice, Ganiyu Oyedeji, and supported by the whole House through a unanimous voice vote.
The appropriation bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the Committee of Supply, chaired by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, during the plenary. In the course of the legislative process on the appropriation bill, the Assembly carried out slight adjustments in the recurrent expenditures of about 144 agencies, just as the capital expenditures of 38 other agencies were equally adjusted.
The adjustments led to a reduction in the total recurrent expenditure from the initial N172.997bn to N153.180bn, resulting in a N19.816bn decrease, while capital expenditure was increased from N177.737bn to N197.554bn, giving an increment of N19.816bn.
The motion for the third reading of the bill was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by Hon. Oludaisi Elemide and supported by the whole house, while the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service, Mr. Deji Adeyemo, did the third reading of the bill before the members.
The Speaker seized the occasion to commend his colleague-lawmakers, management, and staff of the Assembly for their unrelenting efforts towards promoting good governance through the passage of people-oriented legislation.
In another development, a bill on the Ogun State Board of Internal Revenue Law, 2021 has passed first and second readings on the floor of the State House of Assembly with an assurance from members that when operational, it would aid efficiency, promote accountability and transparency as well as boost revenue generation in the State.
The bill seeks a law to provide for the establishment of the Ogun State Board of Internal Revenue, Service, and Administration; and the collection of revenue due to the government of the state and for matters related.
According to the lawmakers who spoke during the debate on the second reading of the bill, noting that it was high time the State Revenue Board became autonomous to further strengthen its operations,
The Assemblymen spoke in unison after the motion for the second reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Sheriff Yusuf, seconded by Isaac Adams, and supported by the Whole House through a voice vote at a plenary presided over by Speaker Oluomo.
Others, in their submissions, said the bill would promote accountability and transparency, improve fund generation, encourage high productivity on the part of staffers, and bring in more development opportunities to the state through increased revenue generation.
Responding, the Speaker thanked his colleagues for their robust contributions and therefore charged the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative action.
