By Our Correspondent
Kwara state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has signed into law the 2020 appropriation bill.
The governor, shortly after signing the budget, described budget as a deliberate effort by his administration to truly rebuild the state to uplift the people from poverty and address infrastructure deficit.
The governor commended the state House of Assembly members for the thorough scrutiny of the budget and for its speedy passage.
Duanews gathers that the budget comprises capital expenditure whichwas reviewed to 55 per cent up from 53 per cent while the governor presented it on December 18.
The online outfit learnt that the legislators cut the recurrent expenditure 47 to 44 per cent but increased the budget to N476m in favour of capital expenditure.
The governor said: “This is not a rubber stamp budget. I know what is in it and I agree with it in totality. I know there are changes but I agree with it because as representatives of the people, you’re closer to the people.
“You can make input into the budget,it’s all for the good of our people.”
He expressed optimism that the budget would drive socioeconomic and infrastructure growth of the state and up lift as many people as possible out of extreme poverty.
He singled out the lawmakers for commendation, for approving the Social Investment Programme Bill which he assented to and for making further provisions for it in the 2020 budget.
AbdulRazaq said the action of the legislators would boost effort of his government to bring much of dividend of democracy to ” the poorest of the poor in our society.”
“It is a programme that will help the poorest of the poor and increase our GDP. We also intend to commence the School Feeding Programme this year.
“So many other programmes and projects have been captured in the budget to benefit the people. This is indeed a budget for the people of Kwara State.” the Governor added.
In his remark at the occasion, the Speaker of the Assembly, Salihu Danladi Yakubu, said the budget underwent thorough scrutiny before it was passed for the governor’s assent.
“Members of the State Executive Council and other top government officials in their comments during the budget defence, could testify to the fact that the 2020 budget was thoroughly scrutinised.
“It is a budget of reformation and reconstruction, because there are critical sectors which were adequately provided for like water, health, education, agriculture, and works with very substantial capital votes. It is a budget of hope,”he said.
Yakubu expressed the resolve of the Assembly to carry out adequate oversight functions to ensure proper implementation of the budget.
Top government officials that attended the occasion include the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi; principal officers and members, Head of Service, Modupe Oluwole; the Chief of Staff, Aminu Logun; Government House.
Others are the Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Olasumbo Florence; the Clerk of the House, Halimah Kperogi and the Acting Accountant-General of the State, Dr Kayode Waheed.
