BY AUGUSTINA OKINEDO
Ondo State House of Assembly has committed 2024 budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to Committee stage for scrutiny.
The bill appropriated the sum of ₦16 Billion, 589 Million, 793 Thousand, 823 Naira, 64 Kobo out of which a sum of ₦3 Billion, 249 Million, 906 Thousand, 749 Naira 54 Kobo is for recurrent expenditure while the sum of ₦13 Billion, 339 Million, 889 Thousand, and 74 Naira 5 Kobo is for capital expenditure for the year 2024.
The House Committees on OSOPADEC and Finance and appropriation for proper is expected to report back to the house in two weeks.
After scaling through the second reading at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Chief Olamide Oladiji.
The Vice Chairman house committee of OSOPADEC , Princess Olawunmi Fayemi- Obayelu affirmed that the year 2024 budget estimate when passed into law would go a long way to improve the living standard of the people of the coastal Area.
Princess Fayemi-Obayelu informed that the bill should be critically evaluated and passed with due process as the mandate areas are faced with challenges such as oil spillage on the water thereby making life difficult for the people.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the bill called for accountability and prudency in other for the mandate areas to get the best.
Consequently, a bill for a law to amend the Ondo law Commission 2006 to change the tenure of the members of the commission to part-time tenure of office and bill for a law to amend the provision of the Ondo State High Court law, 2006 have been committed to committee stage after sailing through the second reading.
During debate on the bill,the Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Stephen Abitogun informed that the amendment is apt as the main purpose of the commission is to review the extant laws of the state which has not been on regular basis.
Debating on the bill,the house said the bill is for Administrative purpose and when amended would increase number of Judges, thereby assist in speedy dispensation of justice in the State.
The committee is expected to report back to the house in two weeks.
Also committed to committee stage is a bill for a law to amend the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences law, 2015.
The Chairman House Committee on Tertiary education, Chris Aiyebusiwa and other lawmakers noted that the amendment became imperative to strengthen the institution, saying that the move was laudable.
The Speaker while adding his voice said that the amendment would go a long way to make the University meet up with global best practices.
The bill was later committed to the Committees on Education and Tertiary education for scrutiny.