Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Friday signed the 2024 appropriation bill into law.
Aiyedatiwa had on December 21, 2023, presented the 2024 Budget estimates of N384bn, christened Budget of Economic Resilience, to the State House of Assembly for legislative consideration as then the acting governor of the state.
Speaking during the signing of the budget into law as the new governor of the state, Aiyedatiwa appreciated the House for painstakingly considering the budget and passing the same into law.
The governor said, “I must thank Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Chairman and Members of House Committee on Appropriation and all Honourable Members for the detailed scrutinization and prompt passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
“After extensive deliberation involving interface with all MDAs and the Judiciary, the size of the approved Budget for 2024 stands at Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million Naira (N395,257,000,000.00) only.
“Out of this amount, a sum of Two Hundred and Twenty-Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N222,259,827,500.00) only, representing 56.23% is for Capital Expenditure while a sum of One Hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N172.997,172,500.00) only, representing 43.77% is to cover the Recurrent Expenditure.”
Aiyedatiwa assured that his administration will put its shoulder to the wheel to implement the 2024 budget with the required probity and transparency it deserves.
He said, “In pursuit of this, the 2024 Budget details will be made available on the Ondo State portal www.ondobudget.org, for access and monitoring.
“I must put on record that generally, this Administration has enjoyed a very cordial relationship with the Legislature and this has enabled us to deliver considerably on our promises to our people. This is a good legacy of our dear Arakunrin which must be sustained.
“As we keep implementing people-centred projects in line with our REDEEMED Agenda, we will continue to improve on our revenue drive while cutting down on our recurrent given prevailing economic realities.
“The focus of this Budget, as said in my Budget Speech, is human capital development. Emphasis would also be placed on climate change, clean and sustainable environment, rural development, ent, and food security while ongoing legacy infrastructural projects of our dear departed Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON would be completed. Furthermore, we would keep meeting salary, pens, ion, and gratuity obligations to our serving and retired officers, as applicable.
“I wish, therefore, to solicit for the continuous understanding and cooperation of our people. I understand the temporary pains occasioned by the recent petrol subsidy removal. This Administration would continue to put measures in place to cushion the effects until it can weather through the storm, hopefully shortly.
