Ondo Assembly rejects Aiyedatiwa’s N487b supplementary budget

A major crisis is brewing between the executive and legislature of the Ondo state government, as members of the state House of Assembly have rejected the 2024 supplementary budget of N487,437 billion submitted by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The lawmakers have consequently threatened to issue a bench warrant against Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, the commissioner for finance, if she refused to appear at the next adjourned date to explain the performance of the 2024 appropriation law signed into law before it could consider the supplementary budget.

Members of the assembly were displeased that instead of honouring the invitation, the commissioner sent a letter through Mr. A.O Akinseloyin, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, to inform them of her inability to appear before them.

The letter was read by Benjamin Jayeola, the Clerk of the Assembly.

Earlier, Governor Aiyedatiwa had sent a bill to the Assembly to amend the 2024 appropriation bill and authorize the issuance from the consolidated revenue fund of the state a sum of N487,437 billion.

Out of the fund, a sum of N246,198 is for recurrent expenditure while the balance of N241,239 is for capital expenditure for the services of the state until the end of the year.