- House Passes N96bn 2018 Budget
Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Right Honourable (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, has advocated for wider consultation over the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The lawmakers considered and approved eleven and stepped down four others out of the alterations to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as transmitted to the House by the national Assembly.
This is just as the House passed the 2018 budget submitted to the House by the state governor, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose, a couple of weeks ago.
In a statement By the Special Assistant (Media) to the Speaker, Stephen Gbadamosi, in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, Oluwawole spoke while the House deliberated on the draft constitution amendment sent by the National Assembly.
The Ekiti Speaker was of the opinion that it was necessary to consult widely with stakeholders before the House of Assembly took decision on certain parts of the Constitution to be amended.
Parts of the alteration approved by the House included prompt presentation and passage of appropriation bills, alteration of the Nigeria Police Force to Nigeria Police, autonomy for the legislative arm of government and reduction in the age of contestant to political positions, among others.
Oluwawole said; “the four alterations the House stepped down are to allow the Assembly make wider consultation,” remarking that the decision of the House would be communicated to the National Assembly soon.
While passing the appropriation bill of N98.6 billion, tagged ‘budget of accomplishments’ which was presented to the Assembly by Governor Fayose earlier in the month, the House unanimously agreed on the feasibility of the bill.
Presenting the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, saddled with the responsibility of working on the estimates, the Committee Chairman, Hon Jeje Samuel, said ministries, agencies and departments appeared before the Committee to defend their estimates.
He added that the committee observed that the 2018 budget, as presented by the Governor, was geared towards expansion of internally generated revenue, completion of all ongoing projects, provision of qualitative health services, quality education and sustainability of agricultural production with a view to ensuring food security and poverty alleviation in the state.
The appropriation committee chairman recommended that all hands ought to be on deck to improve the state internally generated revenue for the realisation of the budget and appreciated the House for the opportunity given to the committee to serve.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Pastor Oluwawole, praised his colleagues for speedily working on the budget estimates and charged them as stakeholders to play their role adequately in the realisation of the performance of the budget.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
