Ogun State House of Assembly is strongly considering upward review of budgetary allocation to agricultural sector, as the house recently began consideration of the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N703billion which has scaled through second reading
Edu-Biznews recalled that Governor Dapo Abiodun had last 30th of November, 2023 presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill christened Budget of "Sustained Growth and Development" before the house which included largest allocation of N209.1billion representing 30percent of the budget size for infrastructure and road projects, N109.21billion,( 16 percent) to Education, N81.18billion (12percent ) to Health, while three percent was voted for recreation and culture, with 4percent on social protection, both agricultural and industrial sectors got a meagre amount of N14.21 billion representing just two percent of the total budget estimate
But Speaker of the house, Right Honourable Olakunle Oluomo presiding over plenary at the State House of Assembly complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, joined voices with other members who rejected the budgetary allocation for the agriculture, considering the large arable land in the state which requires more funding for cultivation for farm lands and provision of the needed tools for farmers to boost food production
Members including Hon.Adeyanju Adegoke ( Yewa North I) and Dr.Babatunde Tella (Abeokuta North) who called for speedy passage of the budget estimate, stressed the need for injection of more fund into the agricultural sector to encourage more farmers to grow cassava, rice, cashew and other farm products where the state has comparative advantage, so as to ensure food security in the state
Most of the lawmakers including the Minority Leader, Hon.Lukman Adeleye, however lauded Governor Abiodun for the 16 percent allocation to education sector and 30 percent of the budget size set aside for the road projects and other infrastructural development for the 2024 fiscal year saying it will further stimulate economic activities in the state to generate more review to fund the implementation of capital projects for overall interest of the people
They also emphasized the need for equitable implementation of roads and other infrastructural projects across the state
The house called on the governor to provide the needed logistics support, to enable it perform oversight functions to ensure more effective implementation of the budget when eventually passed into law
Speaker Oluomo then referred the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the House Finance and Appropriation Committee for further legislative action
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