Oyetola, Abiodun sign 2022 appropriation bills into law

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday, signed the 2022 Appropriation Bill into law. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivery of prosperity to the people, provision of jobs and opportunities for the youths, delivery of more infrastructure and putting the state on a surer footing.

Oyetola, while signing the bill into law in his office at the Government Secretariat, Abeere, Osogbo, said that the 2021 budget, as of the third quarter of this year, had recorded 83.66 per cent performance.

He noted that with the passage and signing of the appropriation bill into law, the race to achieving more in 2022 had begun, as it remains a year of consolidation that would open the door for improved sustainable development.

The governor, therefore, gave the assurance that by the end of the year when that of the final quarter would have been computed, the performance would be up from 95 per cent recorded in 2020.

He attributed the appreciable performance of the budget to improved delivery of programmes and projects across the state during the year.

According to him, the government was able to achieve this year’s budget performance and service delivery through improved employment of creative, innovative and probity strategies, including efficient deployment of available resources, cutting costs and plugging wastes to deliver service in a sorely challenged economy.

Oyetola, who commended the leadership and members of the legislative arm for quickly passing the appropriation bills into law on a consistent basis since the inception of his administration, said the three budgets passed by the House so far were done with unprecedented dispatch during the periods of scarce resources and crass uncertainties occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic since last year, adding that the acts have proved the House’s capacity for service, understanding and love for the people.

ALSO, Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, signed the 2022 appropriation budget into law. A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, said the House of Assembly had earlier in the day passed the exact figure of N350,735,149,739.57 contained in the 2022 budget with adjustments in some recurrent and capital estimates of about 182 agencies.

The passage of the budget came barely a month after its presentation by the governor to the Assembly. Also, the passage of the bill was consequent upon the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation by its Chairman, Olakunle Sobunkanla, who thereafter moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by his Vice, Ganiyu Oyedeji and supported by the whole House through a unanimous voice-vote.

The appropriation bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the committee of the House presided by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, at the plenary held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Assembly in the course of legislative process on the appropriation bill, carried out slight adjustments in the recurrent expenditures of about 144 agencies, just as the capital expenditures of 38 other agencies were equally adjusted.

The adjustments led to reduction in the total recurrent expenditure from the initial N172.997billion to N153.180 billion, resulting in N19.816 billion decrease, while capital expenditure was increased from N177.737 billion to N197.554 billion, giving an increment of N19.816 billion.

The governor, while signing the bill at his Oke-Mosan office, thanked the members of the House for the speedy, but thorough passing of the bill.

He assured that his administration would put machinery in place to ensure optimum performance of the budget.

Abiodun further said his administration would continue to espouse projects that would affect the state’s socio-economic activities positively.

He, however, urged the House to continue giving the incumbent government in the state its support so that it could continue to deliver on its electoral promises.