Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N1,054,542,020,147.47 before members of the State House of Assembly.
The Guardian reports that the appropriation bill consists of N453.56bn as recurrent expenditure and N600.98bn as capital expenditure.
The governor, who had earlier commissioned the newly redesigned State Assembly Complex built over 45 years ago, presented the 2025 budget, christened the “Budget of Hope and Prosperity,” at a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide.
The budget was made up of N120.14bn to cater for personnel costs, with consolidated revenue costs put at N37.49bn, while N76.07bn would cater for public debt charge. Overhead costs were put at N219.86bn, with N600.98bn allocated for capital expenditure.
Giving the sectoral breakdown of the proposed budget, Governor Abiodun explained that the Education sector would receive N177.835bn, representing 17%, while N134.538bn, amounting to 13%, was allocated to the health sector. N66.382bn, or 6%, was proposed for Housing & Community Development, while Agriculture/Industry would receive N65.38bn, also 6%, with infrastructure taking N284.4bn, or 27%.
The remaining N25.27bn, or 2%, was allocated to recreation, culture, and religion.
Other sectors included Social Protection, which secured N39.83bn, or 4%, and General Public Service – Executive Organ, which was allocated N46.86bn, also 4%. General Public Service – Financial & Fiscal Affairs was allotted 4%, amounting to N42.28bn, while 0.3%, or N2.91bn, was set aside for General Public Service – General Personnel Service. Public Order & Safety was allocated 3% or N26.44bn. Economic Affairs received N5.97bn, or 0.6%, while the Judiciary was given 1% or N10.54bn. The Legislature will take 2%, or N21.18bn, with the remaining N104.6bn, or 10%, allocated to Statewide expenditures.
Explaining the budget, Abiodun revealed that the 2025 budget proposals would address the challenges facing the state and outline sustainable strategies to overcome them.
He added that the expenditure policy for 2025 aligns with the State Economic Development Plan and Strategy (2021–2025), targeting fiscal sustainability, human development, food security, a favourable business environment, energy sufficiency, enhanced transport infrastructure, and industrialization with a focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The governor said, “As the sixth budget of this administration, the 2025 Appropriation Bill, titled ‘Budget of Hope and Prosperity,’ reflects current challenges, essential reforms, and the need for inclusive, diversified, and sustainable growth. It aims to stimulate economic growth, reduce inequality, and improve citizens’ well-being. The budget prioritises infrastructure, healthcare, housing, security, education, youth empowerment, job creation, and agriculture, with policies designed to drive recovery and transformation during economic turbulence.
“This budget strives to balance fiscal responsibility with improved public service delivery, ensuring resources are used effectively to maximise prosperity for all, by tackling immediate issues like unemployment and poverty, while investing in long-term growth. It serves as a roadmap for economic and social progress. Its vision is to inspire hope, foster unity, and strengthen public trust in the government’s ability to manage resources responsibly and guide the state toward a more equitable and sustainable future,” Governor Abiodun remarked.
Giving an appraisal of the present year 2024 Budget, he revealed that the state had achieved 79% of its prorated revenue target and 56% of the pro-rated expenditure target, adding that the performance over the past few years underscored the state’s fiscal reliability, with optimism for giving the state a stronger financial base.
While appreciating the governor, the Speaker, Hon. Elemide commended Abiodun for the renovation of the State Assembly Complex and other infrastructural projects, which had contributed to the overall well-being and working conditions of the lawmakers and staff.
He explained that the presentation of the yearly Appropriation Bill remains a constitutional requirement to ensure the judicious allocation and utilisation of public funds in the coming year.
Elemide lauded the present administration’s ongoing legacy projects, including the Agro Cargo International Airport, the Remo Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone, the resuscitated Kajola Free Export Processing Zone, the Inland Dry Port at the Dry Port City Sodipo Village, Papalanto, and road infrastructure, revealing that the Assembly had, in the last 18 months, considered 14 bills, nine of which had been passed.
Elemide posited that 32 motions were passed into resolutions, covering a wide range of issues, while conducting oversight functions on all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with over 40 issues resolved amicably under the quasi-judicial function of the Assembly. He sought the need for a Special Court to enforce the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, as land-related disputes had accounted for over 80% of all petitions received by the House.
Calling for financial autonomy for the state legislature to enhance the efficient discharge of its constitutional duties, the Speaker further commended the governor for improved welfare for members of staff, with a request for more initiatives that would ease the working conditions of the lawmakers and the workforce.
In his closing remarks, Elemide noted that the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill was another clarion call on all to rise to the upliftment of the socio-economic development of the state, assuring that the lawmakers would continue to strive to ensure the timely passage of the Appropriation Bill for the coming year, as well as monitor its implementation through oversight functions to ensure its benefits to the people.
He assured that the Assembly would always cooperate and support other arms of government in the onerous task of ensuring peace, security, and the welfare of the people, which remains a joint task in governance.
Dignitaries present at the budget presentation included the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, former deputy governors, Senator Shefiu Kaka and Yetunde Onanuga, State Head of Service Kehinde Onasanya, former Heads of Service, members of the State Executive Council, members of the body of Permanent Secretaries, paramount rulers of Yewaland, Egbaland, and Remoland, and party stalwarts, among others.
