BUDGET: AMOSUN PROPOSES N305 BILLION FOR 2019

The Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in Ogun State,  has proposed N305 billion budget for 2019, with education taking the lion share of N66.9 billion. The proposed budget is N38 million lower than the previous year.

Commissioner for Budget Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina, who made the disclosure  at the 2018 Treasury Board Meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital added  that  education budget is N78.9 billion lower than that of last year.

Adesina, who said that the budget is targeting 75 percent performance, added that  personnel cost in the budget stands at N35.9 billion, which is against N35.5 billion in the 2018 budget.

It is expected that the Ministry of Health will spend N17b, while Agriculture will spend N20.9b,  housing and rural development will spend N36b and N52b  respectively.

Amosun, who also spoke during the crucial budget meeting  added that the 2019 budget will be used to complete the ongoing projects  across the state.

The governor also  disclosed that his administration had offest the cooperative deductions  of civil servants with N11.8b out of the N17.3b received from the last tranche of the Paris Club refund.

He  explained that N6.8b was paid for deductions of  civil servants and local government workers, while the balance was used in offsetting the deductions of retired civil servants.

While assuring to offset the  balance of N450m and N460m cooperative deductions to local government workers and civil servants respectively, before the expiration of his tenure, Amosun said he had paid N11.8 billion  between  Friday last week and Monday.