Remarks by Governor Seyi Makinde, at the Signing of the Oyo State 2022 Appropriation Bill

Being the remarks by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, at the signing of the Oyo State 2022 Appropriation Bill

Two Hundred and Ninety-Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Four Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira Ninety Four Kobo (N294,704,585, 356.94).

This is the total figure for our 2022 Budget of Growth and Opportunities as passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly. 

And I must use this opportunity to thank the Honourable Members of the House, especially Mr Speaker, Honourable Debo Ogundoyin, for the speedy passage of our budget proposal.

And so today, I have just signed this Year 2022 Appropriation Bill into law.

This document represents the wishes of the good people of Oyo State. As has become our usual practice, we started this budget process with Town Hall Meetings in all the zones of our state. We got the input of stakeholders before deciding how to appropriate our spending. So, we can rightly say, “It is OUR budget”.

As you know, it is one thing to pass a budget. It is more important to implement it. Before we came in, the previous administration recorded about 30% budget performance. But if you check the records, you will see that in 2020, our budget performance was over 50%.

In 2021, we did better at over 60%, that’s about double what was obtainable in the past. For this 2022 fiscal year, our target is a minimum of 70 to 75% performance. And you know that one thing that impacts budget performance is revenue.

And so when we talk about our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), we have moved Oyo State from Number 9 in Nigeria in 2018 to Number 7, representing an increase of over 15 billion Naira in IGR, without increasing taxes.

So with the increase in revenue, we are better able to fund our budget and record higher budget performance.

For the year 2022, we have our eyes set on raising our IGR to 5 to 7 billion per month. Yes, it is a tall order, but it is not impossible.

When we look back at our Year 2021 budget performance – we consolidated on the gains of the 2020 fiscal year. We completed some of the projects we started the previous year and commenced new ones. A major highlight of the year was completing the first phase of the work at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba. In the first half of 2022, we look forward to the completion of the second phase.

Earlier in the year, we also completed the 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road. We have also completed the 9.7km Saki Township Road dualisation, and it’s just awaiting commissioning.

Also, our market men and women were happy to get back their shops at the remodelled Akesan Market, which was razed in January 2020. And those at Sasa Market should look forward to moving back to their rebuilt market in 2022.

Other projects to look forward to in the first half of 2022, include the commissioning of the four bus terminals we are building at Challenge, Ojoo, Iwo Road and New Ife Road. We also have the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, among other ongoing projects.

We will continue to make the budgeting process in Oyo State open and transparent. As citizens, you have every right to ask us questions about what we are doing and how we are spending your money. But I must also mention that every right comes with responsibilities.

Yes, we have a right to ask questions, but we also have a responsibility not to spread lies and disinformation. Last year, during the budget signing, I had to dispel rumours in the press that the Oyo State House of Assembly had padded the budget. This year, it is something new.

Some people went out there to say that the N26 billion allocated to capital and recurrent expenditure of the Governor’s Office is for feeding. And you would have to ask what we could possibly be eating that would lead to such allocation.

Well, let me make it clear for those who are still confused. The Governor’s Office is made up of at least 10 departments and agencies. Each department and agency is staffed, and they also carry out capital projects.

For example, the Oyo State Fire Service and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office are under the Governor’s office. These are agencies that often have capital projects. In fact, of the N26 billion allocated to the Governor’s Office, over 50% is for capital projects. We also have other agencies under the Governor’s Office like the Bureau of Public Procurement, ‘Operation Burst’ and the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA). So, anyone going around saying this money is for feeding is just a mischief-maker.

Before I proceed with the signing of the 2022 Budget of Growth and Opportunities, let me thank you, the good people of Oyo State, for all the support you have given our administration in the last two years, and for the opportunity you have given us to serve you. It has been a privilege. We pray that you give us the same support as we move on to the remaining part of our current tenure.

Our 2022 outlook is quite positive; God sparing our lives, it will indeed be a year of growth and opportunities for the good people of Oyo State.

As a side note, I signed the bill granting financial autonomy to the Oyo State House of Assembly into law. And so in Oyo State, we are practising the principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary.

I have also signed the 2022 Appropriation Bill into law to the glory of God and for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State.

Thank you and God bless you.

~ Governor Seyi Makinde, December 22, 2021