Ondo assembly steps down supplementary budget over commissioner’s failure to honour invitation

The Ondo house of assembly has stepped down the state’s 2024 proposed supplementary budget.

The lawmakers stepped down the budget on Thursday due to the failure of Omowumi Isaac, the commissioner for finance, to honour the assembly’s invitation.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of the Ondo, had earlier sent a supplementary budget to the assembly for approval.

Aiyedatiwa asked lawmakers to amend the 2024 appropriation bill that will increase the state’s budget to N487.2 billion.

In the supplementary budget, N246.198 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N241.239 billion was budgeted for capital expenditure.

In December 2023, the governor signed the 2024 appropriation bill into law.

Aiyedatiwa presented N384.5 billion to the assembly, but the house passed N395.257 billion.

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At the plenary on Thursday, the finance commissioner was not present but sent a letter through A.O. Akinseloyin, the permanent secretary of the ministry.

Benjamin Jayeola, clerk of the house, read the letter to the lawmakers.

Speaking, Oguntodu Olajide, a lawmaker representing Akure constituency 1, asked the lawmakers not to approve the supplementary budget bill because the finance commissioner failed to appear before the assembly.

Olajide said the commissioner was invited to explain the performance of the 2024 approved budget.

Contributing to the debate, Felix Afe, a member representing Akoko north-west constituency, described the letter as an affront to the people of Ondo state.

He said the invitation letter was not addressed to the permanent secretary but to the commissioner.

“The letter did not state where the commissioner for finance went to and when she would come back,” Afe said.

“We want her to tell us the performance of the budget for 2024.

“Without the appearance of the commissioner for finance, we should step it down.

“If she does not show up next time, the assembly should issue a bench warrant against her.”

Chris Ogunlami, a member representing Okitipupa constituency 1, described the letter from the permanent secretary as fake.

Ogunlami said the finance commissioner must explain the purpose of the supplementary budget.

Olamide Oladiji, the speaker of the assembly, said the supplementary budget should be stepped down until the commissioner appears before the lawmakers to defend the bill.

The speaker directed the clerk of the assembly to write another letter for the commissioner to appear before the lawmakers.

He scheduled October 17 for the appearance of the commissioner.