BY AUGUSTINA OKINEDO
The Ondo state house of assembly has expressed sadness over the plight of oil producing communities in the state.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi made known this at the budget defence of 2024 Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
The management of OSOPADEC had appeared before the joint House Committees on OSOPADEC and Finance and Appropriation to defend the 16.5 billion naira budget for the fiscal year.
The budget of N16,589,793,823.64 allocated over 3 billion naira (₦3,249,906,749.54) for recurrent expenditure and thirteen billion naira (₦13,339,889,074.50) for capital expenditure for the year 2024.
Mr Ogunmolasuyi who is also the Chairman of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, noted that things were not going well in the area despite the government’s efforts, adding that the best is not yet enough for the people of the area.
Mr Ogunmolasuyi said that the exercise, backed by constitutional provisions, involved public funds that must be accounted for especially for the development of the mandate areas.
In his own submission,the Chairman of the OSOPADEC Committee, Primate Oluwatoyin Allen said that oil-producing area in the state faced challenges that needed urgent and adequate provisions from the government and implored members of both committees to be diligent and meticulous in their task for the betterment of the people of the area.
Primate Allen explained that the sea incursion affecting some communities must be adequately addressed with the provisions of the planned budget.
Representative the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget ,Pastor Stephen Aworere commended the members of the two committees for their usual support, adding that the bill, if approved, would tackle the environmental challenges especially the ravaging sea incursion.
Chairman of OSOPADEC, Mr. Sam Erejuwa, who described the Commission as a mini-government responsible for addressing the needs of two local governments said the the Commission prepared the bill with accountability and transparency in mind, in line with the State government’s mandate and its vision.
Mr Erejuwa hinted that the commission was mindful of the financial challenges in the country and the state, hence the allocation of less than 20 percent for recurrent expenditure and 80 percent for capital expenditure.
He gave an assurance that once the budget is approved, osopadec would hit the ground running in providing succour to the mandate area.