By Precious Oluwole

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Ondo State on Wednesday began budget defence for the year 2025.

It would be recalled that the proposed budget presented by the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa was over N655 billion, with over N248 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure, while over N406 billion is for capital expenditure.

Heads of MDAs, who converged on the Assembly to defend their spending proposals for year 2025, were; Owena Press Limited, Publisher of The Hope titles, Ministry of Information, Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Energy and Mineral resources and Adekunle Ajasin University , Akungba -Akoko among others.

The Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, while declaring the year 2025 budget defence open at the Assembly’s mini chamber in Akure, noted that for the State government to be able to reposition the state’s economy, there is the need for all heads of MDAs to work assiduously towards achieving the set target.

He added that the exercise is a normal practice to shed light on the grey areas, charging the MDAs to cooperate with the committee for a robust budget.

He further explained that after receiving the fiscal document from the governor, the house assured that the spending proposal will be passed on or before December 23 after a careful scrutiny.

He charged the Committee to look at the budget performance of MDAs critically as part of their legislative duties.

Oladiji commended the governor for his passion in driving development in the state which is visible to all.

Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, stated that this Public Hearing is in line with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which empowers the Legislature to appropriate and monitor fiscal estimates of the State in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

He noted that the 2025 Budget christened “Budget of Recovery” is designed to reflect the much anticipated hope for a better future for Ondo State and to also complement the existing projects embark on by the present administration in the State.

“In ensuring a very realistic and workable fiscal instrument in the current year, the State Government has to prioritise its expenditure and open arrays of windows to be able to generate more revenue internally so as not to be dependent on the fund from the Federation Account.

“We must also bear in mind that this is a very critical period in the State and it is apostate to note that this committee will not entertain any frivolous request under any guise as we are working towards actualizing a workable and performing Budget.

Ogunmolasuyi urged all the major players in the implementation of this fiscal instrument to continually strive hard to ensure the sustenance of all Government’s policies and at the same time improve on them in order to further engender accountability, prudency and transparency which is the hallmark of this present administration in the State.

He noted that revenue from crude oil now can no longer sustain the economy, therefore the only way to surmount this problem is for everyone to play their roles in assisting the State Government in diversifying the economy from sole reliance on Federal Account Allocation to maximizing exploitation of the State’s natural resources and at the same time, widening the State’s tax base as well as blocking all loop-holes in the State’s lGR.

“This fiscal estimate will not only empower the people of the state but will also make life more meaningful for them and bring them the desired hope for a better future. am of strong opinion that this Budget would be fully implemented by the State Government if passed into Law”, he concluded.