Ondo Assembly rejects Aiyedatiwa's supplementary budget

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has urged public office holders to support the government by giving back to their constituents — Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa

• Fumes over finance commissioner’s failure to honour invitation
• Threatens to issue bench warrant
• Gov seeks unity among APC members ahead of guber poll
• Appoints Abiola Makinde as campaign DG
• Flags off statewide campaign tomorrow
The Ondo State House of Assembly has rejected the 2024 supplementary budget brought before the legislature by the executive arm of government over the absence of the Commissioner for Finance, Omowumi Isaac, to defend the budget.

The lawmakers, who were not pleased with the decision of the finance commissioner not to appear at the hallowed chambers despite being summoned, threatened to issue a bench warrant against her.

But infuriated by the development, the lawmakers decided not to pass the bill for a second reading until she appears before the Assembly with the Minority Leader, Olajide Oguntodu (Akure Constituency 1), urging his colleagues not to approve the letter since the commissioner of finance did not honour them with her presence.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, said the supplementary budget should be stepped down until the commissioner appears before the lawmakers to defend it. He directed the Clerk of the Assembly to write another letter for the commissioner to appear before the lawmakers on October 17, failure which may lead to further action.

MEANWHILE, Aiyedatiwa has called for unity and renewed commitment from members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle gubernatorial election in the state.

The governor, who gave the advice, yesterday, during the third APC stakeholders meeting in Akure, stated that the party’s strength lies in collective efforts and urged members to intensify grassroots mobilisation.

This came as the governor inaugurated the APC State Campaign Council, with a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Abiola Makinde, as the director-general of the campaign group.

Aiyedatiwa said that the official flag-off of the campaign would take place tomorrow at the Ondo City Hall in the Central Senatorial District.

Makinde, who gave an assurance that he is fully committed to delivering victory for the APC in the election, said: “I promise that Ondo State will remain in the hands of APC,” pledging to lead a successful campaign that would consolidate the party’s hold on the state.”