By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

As the Ondo State House of Assembly commenced the 2024 budget defense of Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) and others today, stakeholders have been charged to co-operate maximally with the State Government towards achieving great goal aimed at improving the lives of the people.

The Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladij who gave the charge while declaring open the programme noted that is a very significant public sitting in any fiscal year as it deals with an important aspect of legislation upon which all Government actions and activities depends.

“It is our belief that budget performance in the next fiscal year shall also be more appreciable, especially when the budgeting is made very realistic”.

The Speaker said that no frivolous requests shall be entertained during this exercise saying that every MDA must justify its proposals beyond all doubt, for any approval to be given.

“No doubt the task before the Committee is enormous but with the experience you have garnered over the years and your in-depth understanding and knowledge on financial matters, I know that you will not betray the trust reposed in you in carrying out this lofty State assignment.

“What we are doing today is in tandem 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.

“Specifically, today marks another significant occasion in the annals of our State, as we have been divinely privileged to gather here again and take a reflection on our journey so far in our conscious effort to collectively work for the upliftment of the welfare of our people in terms of ensuring that developmental projects cut across all segments of the State and are people oriented.

“You will recall that yesterday, Thursday, 21st December, 2023 the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, through the acting Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa presented the year 2024 Budget Estimates to this Honourable House, christened “Budget of Economic Resilience”
which 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 collaborate 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

“Let me use this opportunity to commend Members of House for their efforts in the outgoing year 2023, especially, in the areas of oversight activities. This 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. It is worthwhile to say that there were relative improvements despite the untold effects of hyper-inflation, removal of oil subsidy, climate change and security threat, compared to some previous years.

*At this juncture,I want to commend all other stakeholders and major players in the Budget process, especially, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and the Bureau of Public Procurement for their active role in
putting up this very important document,

“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”.

Among MDAs who have defended their budget include, Owena Press Limited ,Publisher of The Hope titles, Ministry of Information, Office of the Head of Service,Local Government Service Commission, Physical planning, Agric,, OSRC Media group ,among others.

Earlier,the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi in his welcome address 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 behoves on us to collectively take conscious efforts to concentrate on issue that actually 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 attainment 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”.