Aregbesola Presents N174b Budget Proposal

The Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday presented the 2018 fiscal year budget proposal with a figure of N173, 980, 83,700 before the state House of Assembly.

Governor Aregbesola while presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged ‘Budget of Enduring Legacy’, said the year 2018 would be a year of consolidation and completion of his administration’s achievements in the last seven years.

He also said the budget was designed to consolidate on his achievements and leave an enduring legacy of the people of the state, adding that it was also to finally fulfil its six integral action plans.

Furthermore, Aregbesola noted that the 2018 budget is N27,347,336,027 higher than that of 2017 which according to him, was implemented by up to 42.8 per cent despite the paucity of funds.

According to him, the new budget would be financed with the share of the state Federal Allocation, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other sources of income.

Speaking further, he reaffirmed the determination of his administration in rebuilding the education sector and said 14.87 per cent of the budget was allocated to the sector.

The governor said: “Our ultimate goal for the 2018 Budget is to ensure a continuous improvement in the welfare and standard of living of our people.

“This will be achieved by consolidating the previous achievements of this administration and do everything possible to recover the lost glory of the State.

“Thus, the 2018 budget has been carefully packaged to ensure the effective realization of our vision as encapsulated in our Six-Point Integral Action Plan.”

In his remarks, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Folasayo Salam, commended Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

Salam hailed Aregbesola for being faithful to his electioneering promises made to the people of the state in the last seven years as well as the governor’s ability to engage the youths in positive ways.

“I appreciate Mr Governor for engaging our youths in social services, which led to the establishment of “OYES, concept. We are all witnesses to how youths in their thousands were given sense of belonging and tipped for social responsibility with the program.

“I commend the state government under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola on the way and manner education facilities were given new lease of life which is unprecedented in the anal history.

“Security architecture in the state, which has made Osun to be one of the most peaceful states in the country, is one area which Governor Aregbesola has excelled,” he added.