Govs Abiodun, Bello sign 2022 budget of N561.73bn into law
…Abiodun increases capital expenditure by N19.816bn
…As Nasarawa Assembly passes 2022 budget of N110.8bn
In order to ensure smooth expenditure process in 2022, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State signed N350.735b illion and N211 billion budgets totalling N561.73billion into law.
A statement by Ogun State governor’s chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin said, the State House of Assembly had earlier in the day passed the exact figure of N350,735,149,739.57 contained in the State 2022 budget with adjustments in some recurrent and or capital estimates of about 182 agencies.
Passage of the budget came barely a month after its presentation by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to the State House of Assembly
The bill was titled: “H.B. No. 075/OG/2021-Year 2022 Appropriation Law – A Bill for a Law for the Appropriation of the Sum of One Hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Three and Eighty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-Five Naira, Twenty-One Kobo Only for Recurrent Expenditure, (Including the Sum of Nineteen Billion, Two Hundred and Twelve Million, Eight Hundred and Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-Seven Naira, Ninety-Nine Kobo Only For Servicing of Pensions and Gratuities) and One Hundred and Seventy-Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty-Four Naira, Thirty-Six Kobo Only For Capital Expenditure For Service of Ogun State Government, Nigeria for the Financial Year Ending Thirty-First Day of December, Two Thousand And Twenty-Two.”
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, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo at a 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 N172.997bn to N153.180bn resulting in N19.816bn decrease, while capital expenditure was increased from N177.737bn to N197.554bn giving an increment of N19.816bn
Signing the bill at his Oke Mosan office, Governor Abiodun thanked the members of House led by Olakunle Oluomo, 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 will affect the state’s socioeconomic activities positively.
The governor, however, urged the House to continue giving the incumbent government in the state its support so that it can continue to deliver on its electoral promises.
Governor Sani signs N211bn appropriation bill into law
Governor Sani Bello signed the bill at the Council chamber of the government house, Minna shortly before the commencement of the weekly executive council meeting.
The Governor, who appreciated the efforts of the lawmakers in passing the bill in record time, maintained that his administration has been enjoying cordial relationship with the Legislative arm of government.
The Governor commended the doggedness of the lawmakers in ensuring that the right thing is done always, adding that their insistence in most cases have been of help to his administration.
“ I have seen reasons in their stubbornness sometimes and I must confess I really appreciate it because most times they are right and that is how it should be. So when we have our differences we come back and we reconcile,” he said
He said his administration is poised to fund the budget completely as it is the last full budget to be implemented by the present administration,stressing that the Board of Internal Revenue is also determined to improve the state Internally Generated Revenue in addition to the other sources of revenue to the state.
“On our part, we will try and see that we implement the budget but of course it is subject to availability of funds. As we are all aware the budget is just a statement, we hope that we are able to fund it 100%,” he said.
In his remarks, the Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bawa, said the responses from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were encouraging during the budget screening process.
The Speaker however said the budget was adjusted to Carter for some MDAs that were hitherto not captured properly.
He assured that the State Assembly will through its oversight functions, ensure full implementation of the budget.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had on the 4th of November, 2021presented a budget size of over N198 billion with the Capital expenditure of N124 billion while recurrent expenditure was at N74 billion.
The bill was however passed by the State Assembly on the 22nd of December, 2021 with an increase of 13 Billion.
The capital size of the budget signed is N131 billion representing 62% while recurrent budget size is now N80 billion representing 38%.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the state’s 2022 budget of N110.8 billion just as Governor of Niger State, Governor Abubakar Sani signs N211 Billion appropriation bill into law.
Governor Abdullahi Sule presented the 2022 budget proposal of N109.8 billion to the House on December 9.
The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, announced the passage of the budget after the Majority Leader, Alhaji Tanko Tunga, moved the motion at plenary.
The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Abel Bala.
The speaker said the amended budget was in the best interest of the state.
He said: “This is in the best interest of our people and for the overall development of the state.
“A Bill for a law to Authorise the Issuance of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State (Appropriation Bill) of the sum of N110,849,954,879.49 only, for the services of Nasarawa State government for the period of 12 months, commencing from January 1, 2022, ending December 31, 2022, is read for third time and passed.”
He said the sum of N71.7 billion was set aside as recurrent expenditure and N39.07 billion earmarked for capital expenditure.
Abdullahi thanked his colleagues for their commitment to the development of the state.
The Speaker added: “I thank you all for your commitment and for your passion for the state.
“I will enjoin you to continue in that spirit; we are doing exactly what our people have sent us to do here.”
He directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for the governor’s assent.
