Kwara State House of Assembly today passed Twenty Twenty-five Appropriation Budget size of Five Hundred and Eighty Four Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Four Naira, Seventy Two Kobo (N584,693,486,684.72) , an increase of Forty Four Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Nineteen Naira, Seventy Two Kobo(N44,325,366,919.72) as against the figured of Five Hundred and Forty Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, One Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Five Naira Only (N540,368,119,765) that was initially presented by the Executive.
In the approved budget, provisions were increased for critical sectors including education, health, agriculture, water, Housing, youths and works & transport.
The budget estimate was passed after considering the Report of House Committee on Finance and Appropriation at the Committee of Supply laid before the House by its Chairman, Hon. Fatimah Arinola Lawal representing Ilorin East Constituency.
Hon. Lawal elucidated that the approved estimate contained a Recurrent Expenditure of Two Hundred and Five Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Eighty Seven Naira, Thirty two Kobo (N205,296,792,087.32) against Two Hundred and Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Eleven Million, One Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Eight Hundred Fifty Seven Naira (N204,711,117,857) indicating an increase of Five Hundred and Eighty Five Million, Six Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Naira Only while Capital Expenditure stands at Three Hundred and Seventy Nine Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand, Five Hundred And Ninety Seven Naira, Forty Kobo (N379, 396,694,597.40) as against the Sum of Three Hundred and Thirty Five Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eight Naira (N335,657,001,908) presented by the Executive with a difference of Forty Three billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty Nine Million, Sin Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Nine naira Forty Kobo increase.
She maintained that the estimate was thoroughly scrutinized as relevant government Ministries, Agencies Para stalls and other stakeholders were invited for clarifications before arriving at the approved budget.
The Appropriation Bill was read third time by Clerk of the House, Alhaji Kareem Olayiwola Ahmed. Consequently, the Speaker, Engineer Yakubu Danlad-Salihu directed the Clerk to prepare a clean copy of the proposed budget estimate for the Governor’s assent.