Oyetola , Bello sign 2022 appropriation Bills into law

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, on Wednesday, signed the state 2022 Appropriation Bill (budget of N129.7billion) into law.

Oyetola, while signing the Appropriation Bill in his office, in Osogbo, announced that the 2021 budget, as at the third quarter of this year, had recorded 83.6 per cent performance.

Oyetola said, with the passage and signing of the 2022 Appropriation Bill into Law, the race to achieving even more in 2022 has begun as it remains a year of consolidation that will open the door for improved sustainable development.

He expressed the confidence that by the end of the year when the final quarter of 2021 budget would have been computed, the performance of the budget would be more than 95 per cent recorded in 2020.

Oyetola attributed the appreciable performance of the 2021 budget to the improved delivery of programs and projects across the state during the year.

He said his government is able to achieve 2021 budget performance and service delivery through improved employment of creative, innovative, and probity strategies.

He said strategies employed included the efficient deployment of available resources, cutting costs, and plugging wastes to deliver service in a sorely challenged economy.

He pledged his administration’s resolve to continue to follow time-tested principles for optimum results in 2022, saying “with 56 per cent capital allocation and 44 per cent recurrent allocation in next year’s budget, we are obviously on the path of increased service delivery in 2022.

While commending the spirit of harmonious relationship, cooperation, and synergy among the three arms of government, particularly between the legislature and executive, he said his government had been able to deliver people-oriented service in the state.

“In the last three years of working together as executive and legislative arms of government, we have demonstrated the unity of purpose, capacity, and people-orientation in a manner that has delivered service to the people in line with our promise and the people’s expectations.”

“I thank the people of Osun for their cooperation and appeal to them to continue to offer a stronger platform for a better performance,” Oyetola said.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, reiterated the state assembly’s continued resolve to provide leadership that would smoothen governance and makes life bearable and prosperous for the citizens through people-oriented legislation.

Owoeye said the state assembly would continue to support the Oyetola-led administration, warning those contemplating fanning the embers of division or disaffection among members of the assembly to steer clear as the lawmakers remain resolute to ensure the success of the present administration (NAN

In a related development, the Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger, has signed the over N211 billion 2022 appropriation bill, passed by the state assembly, into law.

 

Bello signed the bill into law at government house shortly before the commencement of the weekly executive council meeting in Minna on Wednesday.

 

He appreciated the lawmakers for the timely passage of the bill, adding that his administration has been enjoying a 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 has 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 added.

 

He said that his administration is poised to fund the budget as it is the last full budget to be implemented by the present administration.

 

He noted that the Board of Internal Revenue is also determined to improve the state’s 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 will be able to fund it 100 per cent,” 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.

 

He, 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.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor had in November presented a budget of over N198 billion with the capital expenditure of N124 billion while recurrent expenditure at N74 billion.

 

The bill was, however, passed by the state assembly on the Dec. 22, with an increase of N13 billion. (NAN)

 

 

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