Oduduwa News

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has signed the 2023 budget into law.

Signing the N472,250,694,447.57b Appropriations Bill as passed earlier by the State House of Assembly, on Thursday, Abiodun said he would ensure full implementation of all the items on the bill to sustain the momentum of Building Our Future Together Agenda of his Administration.

“This budget is reflective of what the people of Ogun State want. I can assure you that on our part, we will ensure implementation of the budget.

“Through this budget, our people will enjoy the full dividends of democracy”, he noted.

He thanked the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for their diligence that culminated in the passage of the budget before the end of 2022.

Governor Abiodun had presented the N472,250,694,447.58bn Budget of ‘Continued Development and Prosperity’, consisting of N270.41bn for capital projects, while N201.84bn was earmarked for recurrent expenditure, barely a month ago.

The signed budget has adjustments in the recurrent and capital estimates and projected revenue in 31 different areas across 26 agencies.

The passage of the bill entitled: ‘H.B. NO. 084/OG/2022-Year 2023 Appropriation Law-A Bill for a Law for the Appropriation of the sum of Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-Seven Naira, Fifty-Seven Kobo Only from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the Service of Ogun State Government, Nigeria for the Financial Year Ending Thirty-First Day December, Two Thousand and Twenty-Three’, was consequent upon the presentation of the report of House on November 17.

Ogun State House of Assembly passed the Bill as presented by the Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by its Chairman, Olakunle Sobunkanla, who also moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by his deputy, Ganiyu Oyedeji and subsequently supported by the Whole House through a unanimous voice vote.

The Bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the Committee of Supply presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, during the plenary held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to the report, the recurrent expenditures of 22 MDAs were reviewed, while the capital expenses of four others were also adjusted; thus the adjustments led to a reduction in the proposed capital expenditure contained in the budget from the initial N270, 411, 239,527 to N269,605,938,723.32, resulting in N805.3m difference, while the recurrent expenditure was increased from N201.839bn to N202.644bn giving an increment of N805.3m.

Thereafter, the Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff moved the motion for the third reading of the Bill, seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Balogun and supported by the Whole House, while the Clerk/ Head of Legislative Service, Mr. ‘Deji Adeyemo did the third reading of the bill before the members.

Responding on the floor of the House, Oluomo directed that the clean copy of the bill be transmitted to the governor for his assent.

A breakdown of the budget indicated that personnel expenses would gulp N79.47bn, while N21.12bn was meant for social contribution and social benefits, with N39.90bn earmarked for public debt charge and N61.35bn for overhead cost.

The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors have met with the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu in London, the United Kingdom.

The APC standard bearer was said to have lobbied for the endorsement of the five governors during the marathon meeting which was held on Tuesday.

Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu states and some political heavyweights from the South had vowed not to support the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the refusal of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign after Atiku obtained the presidential ticket of the party.

But hours after the governors meeting with Tinubu, the PDP said it was not aware of their parley with the ruling party’s presidential candidate, noting that as far it was concerned, the governors were in the UK on vacation.

The main opposition party, however, threatened to punish the governors for any anti-party activities, stressing that it had the capacity to discipline the recalcitrant governors.

Shedding light on the London meeting, a source stated, “Tinubu met with the aggrieved governors yesterday (Tuesday) along with a delegation that included (Kayode) Fayemi, (Babajide) Sanwo-Olu, one other governor and an ex-governor. For now, we are only waiting for the G-5 governors to make the official pronouncement in January.”

On what the demands of the aggrieved governors were, the source declined speaking, saying he wouldn’t want to speculate.

“I don’t have details about that. What I know is that they have met and declared their indication at the meeting that they are not supporting any other candidate,” he stated.

The could not independently verify the presence of the Lagos State governor and Fayemi .

A source in the Lagos State Government House, stated, “I have received several inquiries on this report of the governor’s supposed travel with Asiwaju (Tinubu) and I can tell you that he is still in Nigeria. In fact, I spoke with him twice today (Wednesday). Even if he were to travel to meet the G-5 Governors outside the country, it is not something he would want to disclose, but he is very much in the country,”

Nine persons have been arrested by the police over the killing of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Hakeem Mudashiru, in Oyo town.

Mudashiru was reportedly macheted to death by hoodlums at his family compound in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Wednesday.

Oyo State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Adewale Osifeso, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the deceased was attacked by hoodlums during a heated argument.

“There was an unfortunate case of random violence that led to the death of one Hakeem Mudashiru ‘M’ 40 years reported by the father of the deceased, one Jimoh Agala at Durbar Divisional Police Headquarters, Oyo State on Wednesday, December 12, 2022 at about 13:35hrs (01:35pm local time).

“Preliminary investigation has it that the deceased was attacked by hoodlums who he had hitherto engaged in an heated argument.

“At the moment, nine suspects, including a female have been arrested in conjunction with the case, which is currently being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“Lastly, ample deployments of police operatives have been sent to the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order. Updates would be provided accordingly, please,” Osifeso said.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, on Wednesday visited the two-time governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, over the death of his mother, Mama Caroline Olutola Jegede.

Governor Akeredolu, who had earlier called and sent condolence letter, led the deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and other members of the State Executive Council to the Akure family house of Eyitayo Jegede to condole him and other members of his family.

The Governor and his entourage were received by Mr. Jegede, his wife, Mrs Eno Jegede and other family members.

Arakunrin Akeredolu noted that Mama Caroline Jegede departed at a ripe age of 96 years.

He charged the children of the late nonagenarian to thank God for surviving their mother, adding that it is a thing of joy.

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He said: “We are not here to mourn with you. We are here to congratulate you. Mama has gone at the ripe age. We should thank God because when we survive our aged parents, we should be grateful.

“All the seven children are here and alive today. We should thank God. The issue is that when God gives us the opportunity, we should thank God. I am here to commiserate and congratulate you on surviving mama.”

Governor Akeredolu assured the PDP chieftain of the support of the state government for the burial ceremony of mama Caroline Jegede.

According to the Governor, Jegede, having served as the Attorney-General of the state, deserves all the respect and support from the state government.

His words: “I want to say that we will be here to support you for the burial. I must note this, when my mother died, you visited me. You came to the house during the wake keep. You were at the church. You have always shown me a lot of respect.

“We have come a long way. Politics can not separate us. You are somebody that I have a lot of respect for. The state should give you a lot of respect and support too. You have served this state.”

Responding, Jegede, who thanked the Governor, his deputy and other members of the State Executive council, described the visit as a great honour.

He said the relationship between him and Governor Akeredolu is beyond politics, adding that he has huge respect for the Governor.

“Let me start by thanking you, sir, for this honour. I know it is out of genuine love and respect. You have always shown me love and respect.

“I thank you. When mama died, you called me. And I later got a letter of condolence from your office. And now you are here personally with the deputy Governor and members of the state executive council. It can’t be more than this. This is a great honour. I do not belong to the APC. But you have honoured me.

“What is happening is beyond politics. I have so much respect for you. You have been President of the Bar, my own President. You have been our leader and you have never disappointed us.

“Politics will come, politics will go. Before politics, we were somewhere. You have made your marks before you came into politics. I thank you for the love you have shown to my family,” Jegede said.

Jegede also informed the Governor that the family has fixed January 27 and 28, 2023 for the final funeral ceremony of his late mother.