OGUN 2025 APPROPRIATION BILL SCALES SECOND READING, AS LAWMAKERS COMMEND ABIODUN ON ASSEMBLY UPGRADE

By Miracle Okoro, Abeokuta 

The Year 2025 Appropriation Bill of N1,054,542,020,147.47  presented before members of the State House of Assembly by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has scaled second reading on the floor of the Assembly.

The second reading process commenced today shortly after a motion for its debate was moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, seconded by his deputy, Hon. Wahab Haruna and supported by all the lawmakers through a unanimous voice vote.

Opening debate on the second reading of the bill, Hon. Lamidi commended the Governor for providing conducive environment for effective legislative activities through the remodeling of the Assembly Complex, acknowledging that the key sectors in the budget proposals had been allocated necessary budgetary figures that would turn around the socio-economic fortunes of the State for better.

He noted that 2025 budget also allocated more funds for capital projects with less expenditure on recurrent, the he said would help advance development in all spheres of the State economy, while encouraging his colleague-lawmakers to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation through oversight to create value for government's resources.

 While calling on his co- lawmakers to ensure speedy passage of the bill, Hon. Lamidi urged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAs) of government to adhere strictly to the procurement process.

In their contributions, all other honorable members corroborated the Chairman's position, thanking the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration for its vision in upgrading the legislative Complex to meet up with international standard, while acknowledging increased budgetary figures in key sectors of the the economy including health, education and agriculture amongst  others.

They also commended the over 69% performance of the 2024 Appropriation Act as at September, 2024, requesting for more infrastructural development in their constituencies including roads, health facilities and upgrade of educational institutions.

The lawmakers commended improved revenue achievement of the current government, noting that this was a laudable step towards less dependency on Federal Allocation; while enjoining MDAs to henceforth come with details of their budgetary allocation whenever they appear for oversight.