The Citizens’ Town Hall engagement on the 2024 budget and appropriation process has started in Abuja.
The event put together by the House Committee on Appropriation and the Programmes Coordinating Unit, Office of the Speaker of Representatives, attracted many personalities including the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Kabir Abubakar, his deputy, Iduma Enwo, and immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Iyiola Omisore, among others.
In his welcome address, Kabir stated that the purpose of the gathering was to enhance citizens’ involvement in the appropriation process.
“This Town Hall is important in promoting the integrity of the budgeting process,” he said.
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has declared that he is convinced that the good people of Ogbomoso Zone are solidly behind his re-election bid.
Governor Makinde, who expressed confidence after he held consultative and Town Hall meetings with the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbomoso Zone said that the feedback at the meetings held with stakeholders was encouraging.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that Ogbomoso Zone has benefited from many developmental projects and programmes of the administration as his administration is winding up
Governor Makinde urged the Ogbomoso electorate to re-elect him in order to enjoy sustainable development, which is the mantra of Omituntun 2.0.
The governor equally promised to keep working on the developmental demands of every zone of the state based on the resources at its disposal, saying that he feels comfortable working with people from every zone of the state.
Governor Makinde, while speaking at the stakeholders meeting held at the Lagbami Osekun Hall, Ogbomoso, said that the essence of the meeting was to resolve the internal crises within the party in the zone so that the PDP House would be in order before the general elections.
Also speaking at the Ogunlola Hall venue of the Town Hall meeting, the governor maintained that all demands made by the people, including the appointment of a new Soun of Ogbomoso, would be addressed.
He, however, noted that he would only insist that due process must be followed in the appointment of the next Soun, stating that once due process is followed in the selection of the Soun, his government would give its support.
The governor had also used the occasion of the meeting to refund the nomination fees of all aspirants who lost out in the 2023 National and State Assembly elections as he did in Oyo Zone.
Governor Makinde however announced the immediate approval of furniture allowance to local government officials in the state, including council chairmen, secretaries, supervisory councillors and special assistants.
Earlier, the Oyo State PDP Chairman, Mr Dayo Ogungbenro, described Governor Makinde as a promise-keeper, noting that he has done well for Ogbomoso zone despite losing the 2019 election in a majority of the five local councils in the zone.
He maintained that the meetings were scheduled so that the governor could make a fresh agreement with the people of Ogbomoso, urging them to re-elect Governor Makinde and to vote for all candidates of the PDP in the 2023 general elections.
The governor also embarked on an inspection tour of the 76.67km Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin road which was recently flagged off by his administration, while he also opened the campaign office of the Oyo North Senatorial Candidate of the PDP, Mr Akinwale Solomon Akinwale, popularly known as Wolekanle.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that 95 per cent of demands made at the citizen’s town hall meetings have been incorporated into the budget proposal for the year 2023.
Governor Abiodun who made this known at the Treasury Board meeting held at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta,
said that the town hall meeting was necessary in his administration’s inclusive governance in budget preparation.
The Governor explained that his administration introduced the Medium Term Revenue Strategy to identify and work on the major revenue-generating agencies to enhance and sustain revenue mobilisation, collection and enforcement.
He also said that his administration would take necessary steps towards ensuring adequate funds were allocated to areas that would directly impact the socio-economic well-being of the people.
In a remark, The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo said 2023 budget was meant to stimulate the post-COVID-19 state economy by upscaling infrastructure and other sectors that would engender sustainable growth across the State.
Participants at the
first town hall meeting to set agenda for the Oyo State house of assembly have
urged the lawmakers to give priority to security, agriculture and economy in
their legislative duties.
The participants who
were drawn from each constituency in Oyo state also demanded for laws that will
bring equal developmental projects and programmes to all the constituencies
across the state.
In a welcome
address, speaker of the house, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin described the programme as
the best way to determine the direction the 9th Assembly will follow
to achieve remarkable result.
In a goodwill message, state coordinator of Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement, YIAGA Africa, Dr. Ernest Ereke who said it was important to consult the public for successful legislation commended the 9th Assembly for the initiative.
