By Kola Afolabi
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Lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly last week proceeded on another break after passing the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2018 Appropriation Bill into law.

Consequently, the House adjourned till Tuesday, October 23, 2018, for plenary.

The OSOPADEC budget for the 2018 fiscal year is Nine billion, twenty-six million, nine hundred and two thousand, three hundred and eighteen naira, eighty-six kobo (N9, 026, 902, 318.86).

The lawmakers unanimously passed the budget into law after the consideration and approval of the report of the joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation as well as OSOPADEC at the plenary sitting presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo moved a motion for the passage of the budget and this was seconded by Hon. Olamide George.

Out of the total budget, seven billion, seven hundred and fifty-four million, five hundred and sixty-six, thousand, seven hundred and twenty-four naira, fifty-three kobo (N7, 754, 566, 724. 53) only is voted for capital expenditure for the services of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for the year ending, December 31,2018, while the remaining one billion, two hundred and seventy-two million, three hundred and thirty-five thousand, five hundred and ninety -four naira, thirty-three kobo (N1, 272, 335, 594. 33) only is for recurrent expenditure.

While submitting the committee’s report on the floor of the House, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Sunday Olajide, among other things, said the joint Committee observed that the budget was aimed at bringing more succours to the generality of the citizens of the state, especially in the riverine areas.

The committee, among other things, recommended that all ongoing projects that are near completion should be given the much needed attention with a view to completing them soonest.

It equally advised the management of OSOPADEC to embark on more aggressive internally generated revenue drive as provided for in the relevant laws.

The plenary sitting was the first after the lawmakers resumed from two months working recess.

The House also committed to the joint committee on Finance and Appropriation and Public Accounts for proper scrutiny, a bill for a law to make provision for the administration and collection of revenue due to the government of Ondo State and local government council in the state to establish the relevant administrative structure and for matters and purposes connected thereto.

Other bills which passed through the first reading on the floor of the House included, a bill for a law to establish the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital,  Ondo, Ondo State, 2018, and a bill for a law to amend the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences Law 2014.

Although the Lawmakers did not announce they were going for break on the floor of the hallowed chambers, the House after the plenary sitting adjourned till Tuesday, October 23, 2018, for plenary.

This, it was gathered, will enable the lawmakers participate fully in all activities within their various political parties including the conduct of primaries.