The Ondo State House of Assembly has charged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in the state to cooperate with the House to ensure speedy passage of the 2017 appropriation bill for good governance even as the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, has assured the people that the appropriation bill when passed into law would positively touch their lives.
He gave the assurance shortly after his appearance at the Assembly complex during the budget defence by MDAs.
Abegunde explained that the over N169 billion budget estimate transmitted to the House on Tuesday by the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, would not only improve the lives of the people of the state, but would specially bring dividends of democracy to the rural dwellers across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, while declaring open the budget defence at the Assembly complex, explained that it was pertinent for the hallowed chamber to review the budget proposal and be sure that it was realistic in terms of both revenue and expenditure.
"As legislators, it is also part of our responsibilities to know that the provisions contained in the Appropriation Bill are in line with the policy direction of the state government", the Speaker added.
Oleyelogun said the House would work and ensure that the budget proposal and the allocations to MDAs were realistic and achievable.
According to him, the defence of Appropriation Bill is one of the most significant constitutional rights accorded the legislature as entrenched in the Constitution.
The Speaker also commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the budget proposal which is also the first in the life of the present government, saying the Governor has really done well.
Present at the opening session were the lawmakers, the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; the SSA to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Rt. Hon. Taofeek Abdulsalam and Heads of MDAs among others.
Earlier, in his welcome address,the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Sunday Olajide noted that the Committee would painstakingly strive hard to have a workable, feasible and a pragmatic budgeting in which all Ministries, Departments and Agencies would have a fair share allotted to it.
He urged relevant stakeholders to contribute their quotas positively towards attaining a very visionary budget with great commitment of service to humanity.
The Chairman promised to uphold the provisions of the constitution while working through the budget proposal to ensure socio-economic development of the state.
The 2017 appropriation bill was transmitted to the House by Governor Akeredolu, SAN, on Tuesday through the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Bode Adeyelu.
