Akinlabi Afolabi, Ibadan
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has presented a budget of N294 billion to the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Makinde made the budget presentation before the lawmakers in Ibadan on Wednesday. The budget is for the 2022 fiscal year. He named the budget as the ‘Budget Of Growth And Opportunities.’
Makinde, while speaking further, added that his administration will inject N156,000,136,971 into the economy of the state.
According to the governor, a sum of N138,516,308,136 would be spent on recurrent expenditure.
He maintained that one of the major projects that would be carried out in the year 2022 is the 110km Ibadan Circular Road.
Makinde said, “I have the honour of presenting to the House this N294,516,445,107 2022 Budget Proposal.
“As stated earlier, this is a budget of growth and opportunities. Growth, as we inject N156,000,136,971 into our economy through investments in infrastructure and ensuring that our people have higher purchasing power.
“For the first time, our proposed capital expenditure at 52.97% is more than our recurrent expenditure.
“A major project we will be carrying out in 2022 is 110km Ibadan Circular Road. This tolled road will be a major economic boost as it will create an alternate entry and exit point out of Ibadan and connect the new economic corridor and business district, we are building at Moniya. Our recurrent expenditure is N138,516,308,136.”
In response, RT Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly said the occasion is another milestone in the history of Government in Oyo State.
He added that the presentation will spur lawmakers to redouble efforts in terms of oversight functions to ensure strict and complete monitoring and implementation of the budget after its passage and assent to further enhance the economic prosperity and potentials of the State in the next fiscal year.
“The budget proposal is not new to us because we have been part of the process at all levels. We are equally convinced that the Governor has articulated all the requests and demands of our people based on the outcome of the stakeholders consultative meeting on year 2022 budget held across the State.”
“Expectedly, the four cardinal pillars upon which this administration places its development agenda viz Education, Health, Economy (driven by Agribusiness), and Security are steadily being pursued and realized.”
Ogundoyin also appealed to the Governor to assist the Oyo State House of Assembly to assent to the Legislative Fund Management Law which is meant to give full financial autonomy.
“The Law has been passed by this hallowed chamber and already before Your Excellency. The states whose Governors have assented to the law included Adamawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Plateau, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo. Once it is assented to by you, we will be able to implement Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) which is a uniform salary structure for all the States Houses of Assembly.
“States like Rivers, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto , Bayelsa, Delta, Adamawa and Lagos are already paying their Legislative staff using CONLESS salary structure. In Oyo State, the Judiciary workers have also been enjoying their Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS). His Excellency, We do not want to be an exception.”