The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin has commended Governor Seyi Makinde on attainment of notable feats and however appealed him to approve House Financial Autonomy.
Ogundoyin commended the Governor and made an appeal during the Governor’s presentation of the Appropriation and Finance Bills, 2022 on Wednesday, September 26 at Oyo State House of Assembly Complex.
According to Ogundoyin:
“Today’s occasion is another milestone in the history of Government in Oyo State”.
“This is because, we are here in September, 2021 receiving the 2022 Budget proposal from the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde.
“With this development, we are surely going to have enough time to scrutinize and consider the two bills, and this will help Oyo State to keep to the January to December Budget circle.
“This presentation will spur us as lawmakers to redouble our efforts in terms of oversight functions to ensure strict and complete monitoring and implemention of the budget after its passage and assent to further enhance the economic prosperity and potentials of the State in the next fiscal year.
“Let me state categorically that the budget proposal is not new to us because we have been part of the process at all levels. We are equally convinced that the Governor has articulated all the requests and demands of our people based on the outcome of the stakeholders consultative meeting on year 2022 budget held across the State.
“Expectedly, the four cardinal pillars upon which this administration places its development agenda viz Education, Health, Economy (driven by Agribusiness), and Security are steadily being pursued and realized.
“It is worthy of note that due to the collective efforts of all the stakeholders, the 2021 budget has shown more than 65% budget performance.
“There is therefore every indication and conviction that with the great improvement in all the indices of development in Oyo State by Governor Seyi Makinde, the growing IGR of the State and the relentless efforts of all stakeholders, the 2022 Budget proposal will record a higher level of performance than the one for the outgoing year.
“To this end, we are going to do everything possible to maintain the good working relationship existing amongst all the three tiers of Government. But we will also not fail in discharging our duties and providing the checks and balances crucial for achieving a transparent, accountable and prudent Government.
“His Excellency, this address will be incomplete if I fail to acknowledge all your support to the Oyo State House of Assembly. This has made us to surpass virtually all records set by previous administrations. With just about two and half years as a house, we have passed close to eighty bills, we have over eighty resolutions not to mention motions among other feats.
“May I specially request that His Excellency add another feather to his cap by helping the Oyo State House of Assembly to assent to the Legislative Fund Management Law which is meant to give us full financial autonomy. The Law has been passed by this hallowed chamber and already before Your Excellency. The states whose Governors have assented to the law included Adamawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Plateau, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo. Once it is assented to by you, we will be able to implement Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) which is a uniform salary structure for all the States Houses of Assembly.
“States like Rivers, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto , Bayelsa, Delta, Adamawa and Lagos are already paying their Legislative staff using CONLESS salary structure. In Oyo State, the Judiciary workers have also been enjoying their Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS). His Excellency, We do not want to be an exception.
“I earnestly pray to God to preserve our lives and make us agents of positive changes in our dear State and Nigeria as a whole”, Ogundoyin concluded