Governor Rauf Aregbesola

The Osun House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the state’s 2016 budget estimate of N141 billion.

The passage of the budget followed a motion by Mr Kamil Oyedele, the assembly Chairman of Finance and Appropriation Committee during plenary in Osogbo.

The budget has N79.18 billion representing 56.06 per cent as Recurrent Expenditure and N62.09 billion representing 43.95 as Capital Expenditure.

Also, it estimated recurrent revenue at N99.47 billion, representing 70.41 per cent, while the capital revenue expectation is N41.80 billion, representing 29.59 per cent.

Speaking after the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam, said that the budget would focus on capital projects, infrastructure development and workers’ welfare.

He warned that on no account should the executive spend beyond the approved budget without supplementary budget being presented to the legislature for consideration.

The speaker, who described the budget as `the budget of hope’, expressed optimism that 2016 would be a better year for the state, and urged the civil servants to assist government in generating revenue.

He said that government needed to look inward for improved revenue without putting unnecessary burden on the people.

“The executive must explore all avenues to block leakages,’’ he said.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had on Dec. 14, 2015, presented a budget proposal of N150 billion to the assembly.

But in a letter dated April 6, 2016 to the assembly, he sought for downward review of the budget to N137.9 billion, “due to the poor economic situation’’.

Meanwhile, the assembly has elected Mr Safiriyu Akinwole of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP- Ife East) as Minority Leader.

His election followed the death of the former holder of the position, Mr Dejo Makinde.