By Adekola Afolabi
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Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Boards in Ondo state, yesterday began the year 2019  budget defence before the Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

It would be recalled that the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had on December 31, 2018, presented a total of N190.023bn to the Assembly for the 2019 fiscal year for consideration. The governor tagged the  ducument “Budget of Advancement”.

The document was thereafter committed to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, having passed through first and second reading on the floor of the House.

Although the House was still on recess, members of the committee  reconvened to entertain the budget proposal and ensure its speedy passage into law.

Declaring the public sitting open, the Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun, warned heads of MDAs against making frivolous requests, saying that such shall not be entertained in the current exercise.

He described the sitting as very significant  as it deals with most important aspect of legislation upon which all government actions and activities depend.

Oleyelogun observed that the 2019 budget was targeted at completion of numerous ongoing programmes and projects embarked on by the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration.

“The rationale behind this is to further accelerate the pace of socio-economic transformation and development of our dear state to an enviable height and to as well consolidate the effort of the Federal Government under the distinguished leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR).

“It is our expectation as an arm of government (Legislature) that all stakeholders will co-operate maximally with the state government towards achieving this great goal at the end of the day”, the Speaker added.

He applauded the governor for presenting the budget proposal alongside the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), describing the development as being in line with global best practice.

Oleyelogun also commended Akeredolu for approving a special training programme on MTEF for key officers of the Assembly, noting that the knowledge and experiences gained would go a long way in assisting the hallowed chambers in scrutinising the appropriation bill under consideration in the best interest of the people of the state.

He equally lauded the members of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for their efforts in the out-gone year 2018, particularly for carrying out Mid-year assessment of budget performance, saying that the review of performance of MDAs provided insight into both the achievements and challenges that characterised the activities of government in the year.

According to him, there were significant improvements when compared to the year 2017.

He commended all other stakeholders and major players in the budgeting process, especially Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget for performing beyond expectation.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Sunday Olajide, lauded  Governor Akeredolu for forwarding some bills bordering on Public Finance Management as well as regulating the operations of government to the House of Assembly, as a way of ensuring a very realistic and workable fiscal instrument.

He explained that the bills which have since become laws and in full operation have been a powerful spur to responsiveness, transparency and accountability in the financial dealings, in line with international good practices.

The budget defence will be the last to be handled by the current 8th Assembly.

Among the MDAs which defended their budget yesterday were; Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Budget Office, Ondo State Bureau of Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation Office (MEMIS), Ministry of Finance: Expenditure Office; Pools Betting and Lotteries Board; Debt Management Office, Office of the Accountant General, Board of Internal Revenue, Governor’s Office (Govt House and Protocol Department), General Administration Dept (Governor’s Office), among others.