2019 Revised Appropriation Bill passes 2nd reading at KWHA
The 2019 Revised Appropriation Bill forward to the Kwara state House
of Assembly last month by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has passed
through second reading at the floor of the House.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, the leader
of the House, Hon. Abubakar Olawoyin Magaji, explained that it became
imperative in view of under performance of the 32.5% budget
implementation as at June.
Mogaji explained further that the revised Appropriation Bill became
necessary in view of the need to redistribute resources to take care
of priorities of the current administration to ensure that the new
government meets the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the
state.
According to him, the state government had taken the right decision to
indicate downward review of 14.35% to ensure realistic budget
implementation and urged his colleagues to ensure accelerated passage
to make government responsive to the numerous needs of the people of
the state.
Other members who spoke on the on it noted that the revised
appropriation bill reflected the focus of new government, pointing out
that the increase in allocation to health, environment, agriculture,
works and transport, was a clear testimony of the new government’s
determination to be responsive to the need of the people.
They, however, urged the House to ensure increased allocation of funds
to the education sector to provide platform for the introduction of
free education policy in the state.
Members equally observed that the reduction in overhead cost from
N36bn to N28bn was a clear demonstration of prudence and transparency
in governance adding that no meaningful development could be attained
when recurrent expenditure was above capital expenditure and urged the
House to ensure persistent oversight for effective budget
implementation.
Responding, the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Danladi Salihu directed the Clerk
to the House, Hajia Halimat Jummai Kperogi, to read the Bill for the
second time and referred it to the House Committee on Finance and
Appropriation for further legislative process.
Other members who spoke on the Bill were members representing Ekiti,
Owode/Onire, Oke- Ero, Patigi, Odo-Ogun, Gweria/Adena/Banni, Oke-Ogun
and Ilorin East constituencies, Hons Gabriel Abolarin, Ibrahim Ambali,
Raphael Adetiba-Olanrewaju, Ahmed Seidu Rufai, Atoyebi Muse Yusuf,
Ahmed Seidu Baba,Ojo Oyebode and Jimoh Ali Yusuf.