Race to deadline: More states sign budget, pass appropriation bills
By Moses Adeniyi
To beat the timeline to meet the January to December budget implementation cycle, State Houses of Assembly in the States of the Federation have continued to hasten the passage of proposed budgets transmitted to them by their State Governors.
This is just as more State Governors have continued to sign into appropriation bills passed by their respective State Assemblies.
In Ekiti, Gov Biodun Oyebanji on Thursday signed into law the N159,572,481,915.51 2024 appropriation bill passed by the State House of Assembly, giving an assurance that his administration would fully implement the budget for the prosperity of the people.
The 2024 appropriation bill, Christened “Budget of Sustainable Growth and Development” was presented to the governor by the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye and other principal officers at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti.
The 2024 budget estimate of N159,572,481,915.51 has 56 per cent allocated for recurrent expenditure and 44 per cent for capital expenditure.
Gov. Oyebanji reiterated his administration’s determination to ensure that the budget was fully implemented to drive sustainable growth and improve the standard of living of the people of Ekiti State.
He said that the budget was expected to stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, and enhance the overall socio-economic landscape of the state as well as assist his government to deliver on its campaign promises and fulfill its obligation to the people.
While thanking the Speaker and lawmakers for their thorough review of the budget, the governor said the Assembly has proven to be a reliable partner in the development agenda of the state.
“I am so impressed with the quality of debate and scrutiny put in place by the members of the House of Assembly.
“Mr Speaker, I have listened to you on the need to be committed to implementing this budget, in partnership with the House of Assembly through your oversight.
“We will ensure that we implement this budget to the letter because the only way we can actually incentivize our people and deliver on our promise is to implement the budget,” Oyebanji said.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Aribasoye said that the lawmakers had painstakingly deliberated and scrutinized the budget, and affirmed that it aligns with the priorities of the people.
He said that the legislature was impressed with the presentation of the budget, which was well structured to meet the yeanings and aspirations of Ekiti people.
The Speaker further explained that the legislative would continue to collaborate with the executive arm of government for the overall interest and development of the state.
…Gov Diri signs N489.4bn Bayelsa 2024 Appropriation Bill into law
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Thursday signed into law the state’s 2024 appropriation bill of N489,443,632,374 passed by the State House of Assembly.
The figure represents an increase of N8.450 billion from the earlier N480,993,632,369 the governor presented to the House of Assembly for consideration on November 29, 2023.
Diri appended his signature to the “Budget of Sustainable and Shared Prosperity” on Thursday in Yenagoa.
The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said the budget prioritises key sectors like education, infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and agriculture.
He expressed optimism that a careful implementation of the budget would improve the living conditions of the people and address rural and urban poverty.
Diri said, “In order to realise our vision of sustainable and shared prosperity, we have carefully crafted this budget to prioritise key sectors aimed at improving our infrastructure, expanding access to mass education with emphasis on Technical, Science and Vocational Manpower Development, enhance healthcare services, and promote agriculture as a means of creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty.
“You recall that I presented a budget proposal of N480,993,632,369 to the Assembly. But I observed an upward review to the tune of N489,443,632,374, which gives us a difference of N8,450,000,000 to provide more funding for the construction of an ultra-modern stadium; …ultra-modern renal centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, the construction of an administrative block for the Primary Health Care Board and other critical overhead expenses.
“Having adopted the bottom-top approach in the preparation of this budget, specific rural community needs are being prioritized. It is our intention to ensure that the benefits of this budget are felt by all.
“We will work tirelessly to bridge the gap between the urban and rural areas in order to reduce the menace of urban poverty.”
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Abraham Ingobere, stated that a slight upward review was made on the budget proposal of the governor to meet the present economic realities in the country.
He appreciated Diri for presenting an all-inclusive budget that captured the economic realities and the yearnings of people of the state.
Ingobere said the approved budget had a significant increase in the proposed capital and recurrent expenditures in consideration of the current realities in the state and the country.
…Otti assents to N567.2bn Appropriation Bill for 2024
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia on Thursday assented to the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N567.2 billion into an Act.
Speaking at a brief event, which was held at Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Otti said that the budget would stimulate the economy and boost the socio-economic development of Abia.
He said that the budget had been designed to take the state out of underdevelopment, secure its next level of development and promote economic stability in Abia.
“The next few years will be Uhuru for all our people, those living here, those from here and our friends.
“It is not in error that we devoted 84 percent of the budget to capital expenditure.
“As you go through the budget, you will find that every kobo we intend to borrow will go into infrastructure, they are all mapped out for infrastructure.
“We believe that as we require the funding we will get it.
“It is a budget that will spur investments both foreign and local and secure the state for the next level of development,” the Governor said.
He commended the Speaker and his colleagues for their efforts and contributions toward the expeditious passage of the bill. He expressed the confidence that the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government would continue to be cordial.
Otti further said that the state is blessed with a crop of legislators that understood that “governance is about the people.”
In an interview with journalists, the Speaker of the house, Emmanuel Emeruwa, said that the budget would be used to positively impact the lives of the citizenry.
Emeruwa said that the house was articulate and expeditious in ensuring that the bill was passed into law.
He said that this would enable the government to hit the ground running from the first month of the new year.
Also, the Deputy Speaker, Austin Okezie, said that the house would be actively involved in ensuring that every component of the budget was effectively implemented.
“Every aspect of the budget has a committee that will perform an oversight function to ensure its effective implementation,” Okezie said.
Meanwhile in Ogun State, the State House of Assembly has passed the 2024 appropriation bill of N703,028,013,431.64, earlier presented to it for consideration by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The appropriation bill was presented about four weeks ago, with a review in the capital and recurrent expenditures as well as the projected revenue of 18 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The bill was titled, “A Bill for a Law to authorise the issue and appropriation of the sum of seven hundred and three billion, twenty-eight million, thirteen thousand, four hundred and thirty-one Naira, sixty-four Kobo only, from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the Services of Ogun State government of Nigeria for the financial year, ending thirty-first day of December two thousand and twenty-tour.”
The passage of the bill followed the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation Chairman, Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, who subsequently moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by Hon. Damilola Soneye, and was supported by the whole house through a voice vote.
Consequently, the bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the Committee of Supply, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, during Thursday’s plenary, held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
According to the report, the first schedule saw an upward review of the recurrent expenditures in the budget proposals of the Ministries of Industry, Trade, and Investments: Agriculture, Forestry, Transportation, Community Development and Cooperatives, Rural Development, Culture and Tourism, Education, Science, and Technology, as well as TRACE and the State Waste Management Authority.
Others that had their recurrent expenditures jacked up are the Bureau of Lands and Survey and the State Planning and Development Permit Authority, amongst others.
Therefore, the change led to a reduction in the total revenue target of the government, leading to a downward review from N210.248 billion to N198.748 billion, giving a reduction of N11.5 billion, while revenue from the excess crude was jacked up from N3.845 billion to N13.845 billion, resulting in an increment of N10 billion, just as capital receipt was moved from N128.372 billion to N136.872 billion, giving an upward review of N8.5 billion.
The report also indicated an increment in the proposed expenditures under the second schedule for the Office of Auditors General (State and Local) and Sustainable Development Goals.
The Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, moved the motion for the third reading of the bill, seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, and supported by the whole house through a voice vote, after which the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service, Mr. Deji Adeyemo, took the third reading of the bill before the lawmakers.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oluomo directed that a clean copy of the appropriation bill be transmitted to Governor Abiodun for his assent so that the people of the state would begin to enjoy more democratic dividends from the first day of the next fiscal year.
It would be recalled that Governor Abiodun presented a total of N703,028,013,431.64 as the 2024 appropriation bill to the state legislature, consisting of N415.656bn for capital expenditure and N287.37bn to cater for recurrent expenditure.
