The Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday begun public hearing on the 2024 Appropriation Bill submitted before the Legislators by Governor Yahaya Bello.
It could be recalled that Governor Bello on Monday presented N258,278,501,339.00 proposed 2024 budget to the house for approval.
The 2024 proposed budget for Kogi State it was learnt has recurrent expenditure of N145,736,429,609.00 representing 56.43 percent and a capital budget of N112,542,071,730.00 representing 43.57 percent.
Addressing the House which has members of the Civil Society Organisations in attendance, the speaker, Rt Honourable Aliyu Umar Yusuf enjoined them to take critical look at the document to guide the members on the areas that need amendment to ensure the House passed the budget in a timely manner.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman, house standing committee on appropriation, economic planning and budget monitoring Hon. Jacob Sam Olawumi disclosed that the Committee has the responsibility of X-raying, analyzing and making recommendations on the income, including allocations from the federation accounts, the internally generated revenue, capital receipts among others, and the expenditure including both recurrent and capital expenditures in carrying out the policies and programmes of the State Government, and for overall approval of the House.
“To this end, I seek your indulgence to put your wealth of experience towards actualizing a 2024 Budget of all inclusive that will be to the benefits of our dear State.
“The Rt. Hon. Speaker, has been very passionate about public participation in lawmaking process, and has without equivocation expressed the desire to bridge the gap between the government and the people.
“It is therefore, essential that we keep in mind the common purpose that unites us, our goal for common good and good governance where upon successful delivery of government policies and programmes, and the engagement of the people in realizing the governance objectives are crucially linked to the effectiveness of leadership and by extension the membership of this legislature. This is necessary in ensuring governance functioning and development of our dear State.”
