Osun govt cuts 2020 budget to N82bn from N119bn

The Osun House of Assembly, on Tuesday, received a letter from Governor Gboyega Oyetola requesting for an amendment of the state 2020 Appropriation Bill, reducing the budget of the state from N119. 55 billion to N82.22 billion.

Reading the letter at the plenary session, the Speaker of the Osun Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye, said the governor explained that the reduction in the budget was due to the effect of COVID-19 on the global economy, which equally affected the Federal Government allocation and the state revenue.

In the letter titled: “2020 Amended Appropriation Bill’’, the governor explained that coronavirus had affected revenue generation variables of the state and that was why the state 2020 Appropriation Bill had to be reviewed downward.

He said that N9.4 billion of the revised amendment (which makes 11 and a half per cent) would be spent and dedicated to fighting COVID-19 and the post-COVID-19 pandemic effects in the state.

Oyetola said that the amendment was based on reality and implored the lawmakers not to give attention to any state ministry, agency or department that wanted any upward adjustment of its budget.

The amendment bill was passed by the lawmakers for first and second readings and the policy thrust of the bill was equally read.

The lawmakers unanimously said that the bill be given accelerated passage, because of the reality of the coronavirus on the state and the world economy.

The speaker said the amendment was a 35 per cent reduction in the 2020 Appropriation Bill, saying that the dedication of part of the budget to fighting COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 effects were laudable as many businesses had been affected and crippled by the global pandemic.

In another letter received by the assembly, the governor asked for the confirmation of the appointments of Retired Brig-Gen Isa Aderibigbe as the Chairman of the Osun Security Network and Amotekun Corps Governing Board and Retired Brig-Gen Bashir Aderinbi as the Corps Commandant.

The speaker directed the appointees to submit 35 copies of their Resume/Curriculum Vitae to the assembly between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Owoeye said that the appointees should appear before the Assembly on Thursday for screening, saying that they should not come with any entourage or relatives in compliance with the COVID-19 safety rules. (NAN)

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