- As Agencies Complete 2018 Budget Defence
Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salaam has urged Civil servants to be patient with government and work hard to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State.
In a publication, an online Group promoting the activities of the State Government of Osun, Progressives e-Group says it is a tradition for State House of Assembly to receive Budget of each Agency of Government and also allow them to justify every dime they plan to spend for the year before the House.
This exercise which started some weeks ago in the State of Osun House Of Assembly, where Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state presented and defended their Budget came to an end on Tuesday.
The final Budget Defence session was attended by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaj Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, Head of Service, Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade, Commissioner for Budget and Planning Dr Yunus Ismail and the Acting Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr Bicci Ali.
The Speaker, Hon Najeem Salaam in his message charged the State Civil Servants to work assiduously to ensure that the budget is achieved.
He hinted that Revenue is the soul of Budget in any State, and once they achieve the targeted Revenue, it is sure that their welfare will be taken care of immediately and that once there is more money in government’s purse, nothing will delay their entitlements.
He urged them to be patient with the government, as it is not relenting in sourcing for funds to cater for their welfare.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola in his remarks, appreciated the State House of Assembly for their unflinching support for the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the state in general, just as he urged them to be more committed to the cause they have chosen.
The Head of Service, Dr Oyebade Olowogboyega appreciated the Governor for releasing funds for the payment of Pensions and gratuities of the retired Civil Servants in the State. He also prayed that all other outstanding entitlements will be addressed as soon as possible.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Olalekan Yinusa while defending the Budget, said the state will increase the IGR with various Programmes and activities as stated in the 2018 Budget.
In his words, the acting Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr Bicci Alli urged the populace to be more committed to remittance of their dues, as this will enable government of thesState to meet the needs of the people as and when due.