Following the presentation of the 2024 Budget Proposal of #434, 221, 765, 938.79 by the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to the state legislature, the lawmakers have commenced the budget defence exercise for the various ministries, departments and agencies of the government.
Speaking during the exercise, the standing committee Chairman on Finance, Appropriation and State Economy Planning, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola, reiterated that the Oyo State House of Assembly is determined to work with the executive arm of government, through ministries, departments and agencies, as well as other stakeholders in the state for the successful implementation of the proposed 2024 Budget as presented by the governor.
Hon. Babalola stated that the committee, through collective efforts of all members to ensure that the next fiscal year is better than the outgoing year, has painstakingly scrutinized over thirty ministries, departments and agencies since the commencement of the exercise on Thursday, 7th November, 2023.
He stated further that the House is not only ensuring holistic approach in the ongoing Budget defence exercise but critically working to realise the economic recovery as tagged in the Budget by the governor.
The Chairman assured that the House, through various committees will maintain necessary checks and adequate monitoring on all the MDAs for outstanding performances in order to achieve the desired goals of the present administration in the state.
Hon. Babalola, however, commended the state governor for his vision and pragmatic leadership towards initiating an achievable and realistic budgeting system in the pace setter state.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economy Planning, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, representing Atiba state constituency, urged the MDAs to work with the House of Assembly, through their relevant committees in order to have easy access to the funds allocated to each of them.
Hon. Oyekola noted that most MDAs believe that when the committees are on oversight functions, it means that they’ve come to request from them.
“You can’t separate committees from the MDAs, most of the MDAs believe that when the committees are on their neck during the oversight, they are looking for money, forgetting that relevant committees of the House can help them out in their day-to-day activities.
“The committees can raise a lot of motions on their behalf and the resolutions will be passed to the Executive, which will make the Executive to gear up to the task,” he added.
He, however, called on the MDAs to reciprocate the good gesture of the present administration in the state by being alive to their responsibilities.
