By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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The Osun State 2023 Appropriation Bill of N136 billion have scaled through the second reading at the floor of the State House of Assembly.

The bill was submitted by the Executive arm of government on September 29.

Speaker of the State parliament, Timothy Owoeye stated that the budget estimate for 2023 had gone through some considerations at the parliamentary processes where it was agreed to be brought to the floor for the policy trust and second reading.

The 2023 Appropriation Bill named “Budget of Consolidation” has N96,377,740,930 for Recurrent Expenditure while capital expenditure has N39,888,247,710 making a total of M136,265,988,140.

Owoeye held that the 2023 estimate is about N6.509Billion higher than the 2022 quoting Governor Oyetola as saying that the performance of the current budget indicates that Government need to be more pragmatic, proactive and aggressive in it’s Internally Generated Revenue drive.

The Speaker said, “The consideration of year 2023 budget has nothing to do with politics, the Governor should be commended for his courage to meet up with the January to December budget cycle.

“We should all salute his maturity, he is not a selfish person but for the love of the people and the State, the Governor is keeping up with the tradition of the January to December budget consideration.

“This year’s budget presentation should not carry any political baggage because the bilateral consideration of the budget had been on before now and had since been concluded by the state executive council.

The Speaker directed that all ministries, departments and Agencies of government including tertiary institutions should submit 35 copies of their draft budget to the House on or before Friday October 28 for further consideration.

He also urged the House Committee on Rules and Business to meet with House committee on Finance and Appropriation to work out a time table for the appearance of Agencies and consideration of the submitted draft budget.