NIGERIA (Osun)-The Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the 2014 Appropriation Bill of N234 billion into law.

The budget revealed an increase of N18 billion from what was presented to the assembly by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Mr. Aregbesola, represented by his Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning, Bade Adeshina, on December 31, 2013 presented a budget estimate of N216 billion to the assembly.

In the budget, the recurrent expenditure was N99.7 billion, representing 42.55 per cent while the capital expenditure was N134.7 billion, which represented 57.45 per cent.

The Speaker, Najeem Salaam, said the budget was increased to meet the yearnings and aspiration of the people.

Mr. Salaam said the increase was not to enhance the salary or allowances of the lawmakers, but rather to ensure the development of the state.

“The budget was increased from what was presented to the assembly because it was not possible for it to return the same way it was brought to the assembly.

“We must join hands to see to the successful implementation of the budget,” he said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Kamil Oyedele, said the government must derive other sources of revenue for the implementation of the budget.

Mr. Oyedele said the various house committees must ensure that Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, in their care improved on their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He explained that due to the dwindling allocation from the Federation Account, all hands must be on deck to improve on the state`s IGR.

The Chief Whip of the assembly, Ipoola Binuyo, urged all the MDAs to comply with the principle of full implementation of the budget.

Mr. Binuyo said the MDAs must also ensure that they did not spend beyond what was approved for them in the budget.

He added that money should be released to MDAs at the point of their need to ensure proper accountability.

(NAN)