Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, on Wednesday, presented a budget estimate of N402.63 billion as the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly.

Governor Amosun said that his administration rehabilitated, upgraded and widened over 100 existing roads totaling over  600km, opened new roads in excess of 350km in length, and constructed new bridges and flyovers across the three senatorial districts of the state, in the last seven years.

He noted that the 2019 budget proposal represents 17% increase compared to the previous year budget size of N345.4 billion.

Giving a breakdown of the estimate christened, ‘Budget of Enduring Legacy’, Amosun explained that the sum of N254.005 billion be expended on capital projects, representing 63.1% of the total budget.

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The governor, further stated that  personnel cost, consisting of pension and gratuities would gulp N22.20 billion,  just as salaries and allowances were put at N74.43 billion.

He disclosed that the recurrent expenditure would gulp N148.57 billion representing 36.90% and overhead cost fixed at N41.447 billion giving 10.29%.

Disclosing the sources of financing the budget proposal, Amosun, said a sum of  N161.24 billion, representing 40% would be sourced through internally generated revenue, as N42 billion was being expected from the Federation Account, while the sum of N101.38 billion would be sourced  from capital receipts, with other receipts providing N80 billion, representing 19.80% of the total funding.

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On the sectoral breakdown of the estimate, the governor said that the affordable qualitative education programmes would get the lion share of N88.57 billion, representing 22%, with a sum of N22.54 billion allocated to the health sector, while N20.13 billion was earmarked for various agricultural production/industrialisation programmes.

He added that the sum of N53.14 billion was meant to cater for affordable housing and urban renewal, with rural and infrastructural development/ employment generation given N82.53 billion, just as other sectors would share N135.68 billion.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Speaker of the Ogun State Assembly, Suraju Adekunbi, stated that 8th Legislature under his leadership had within the year, passed a total of 21 bills, while 18 others were under various legislative processes, with fifty  motions passed into Resolutions.

He explained that the Assembly equally carried out its annual oversight function with a view to ensuring the judicious use of fund and get value for money in line with the Appropriation Act.

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In his closing remarks, Adekunbi, reassured that members of the 8th Legislature would continue to partner with other arms of government through the speedy passage of people-oriented legislations for the implementation of new projects and completion of other on-going infrastructural facilities across the State to add value to the quality of lives of the people.

The Speaker also reiterated his colleague-lawmakers’ support to the passage of bills and resolutions that would further facilitate the provision of the required policies and legal frameworks required by the government to enhance the provision of more infrastructural facilities and other necessities for improved quality of life for all the residents of the State.

In attendance at the presentation were former Military Administrators in the State, foremost Accountant, Chief Akintola Williams, Sen. Iyabo Anisulowo, Member, Federal House of Representatives, Abdul-Kabir Akinlade, Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Land, Oba (Dr.) Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Olu and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Chief (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and Rev. (Mrs.) Tola Oyediran, amongst others.