By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

Ondo State House of Assembly has committed the amendment of the 2023 appropriation bill to the Committee stage for scrutiny.

Consequently, the House equally committed the amendment of 2023 Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to Committee stage.

At a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olamide Oladij today, the bills were committed to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation and OSOPADEC for proper scrutiny after scaling through first and second reading.

The bill is to amend the 2023 appropriation bill and authorise the issue from the consolidated revenue fund of ondo state of Nigeria, a sum of three hundred and thirteen billion, one hundred and forty four million, nine hundred and twenty five thousand, nine hundred and eighty three naira (#313,144,925,983.00) only .

On the bill, the sum of one hundred and sixty-three billion, four hundred and sixty-eight million, one hundred and thirty thousand, three hundred and thirty three naira (#163,468,130,333.00) only is for recurrent expenditure while the balance of one hundred and forty-nine billion, six hundred and seventy-six million, seven hundred and ninety-five thousand, six hundred and fifty naira (#149,676,795,650.00) only is for capital expenditure for the services of Ondo State of Nigeria for the year ending thirty- first day of December, two thousand and twenty-three.

Also, the bill to amend the 2023 Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) appropriation law is to make provision for the sum of three billion, two hundred and fifty-three million, six hundred thousand naira (#3,253,600.00) only out of which the sum of one hundred and seventy-five million naira(#175,000,000.00)only is for recurrent expenditure and the sum of two billion, nine hundred and sixty-nine million naira (#2,969,000,000.00)only is for capital expenditure for the services of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for the year ending thirty-first day of December, two thousand and twenty-three.

The Clerk of the House, Jaiyeola Benjamin read the letters sent to the House by the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the consideration of the two bills.

Earlier, the Majority leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi moved a motion for the bills to be committed to Committees stage which was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Prince Abayomi Akinruntan and that of OSOPADEC was seconded by the parliamentary Secretary, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju.

Debating on the State amendment appropriation bill on the floor of the House, the Chairman, public account Committee, Olatunji lfabiyi representing Odigbo constituency 1, noted that due to the prevailing situation, it will be very important to look at where the budget needs amendment and do the needful.

Also, Christopher Ogunlana, representing Irele Constituency as well as the parliamentary Secretary, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju said that the bill should is properly scrutinized to meet recent demand.

Debating on the OSOPADEC bill, the Chairman, House Committee on OSOPADEC, Oluwatoyin Allen stressed that OSOPADEC is known for interventioning for the people at the mandate area and the bill when passed will bring development to the area.

Other members posited that appropriate action be taken on the bill for all round development of the mandate areas.

The Speaker, however, urged the committee members to make themselves available and add their own voice, adding that they should be time conscious and send their reports back to the House on time.