Home News Oyo Assembly Adjourns Sitting As Lawmakers’ Absence Delays Passage Of 2019 Budget

Oyo Assembly Adjourns Sitting As Lawmakers’ Absence Delays Passage Of 2019 Budget

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This year’s Appropriation Bill of Oyo State could not be passed yesterday at the House of Assembly.

The lawmakers stepped it down due to the absence of many members.

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The Assembly, which resumed plenary yesterday, had started the business of the day until the member representing Ibadan South East, Fatai Adeshina, called the attention of his colleagues to the provision that requires two-thirds majority for certain issues to be treated.

The plenary, presided over by Speaker Olagunju Ojo, started with 19 of the 32 members.

The Assembly read the Local Government (Further Amendment Number II) Bill 2019 for the first and second times.

According to The Nation, the Appropriation Bill was itemised on the Order Paper of the day as part of bills to be read for the third time.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi had presented the budget proposal of N285 billion to the lawmakers on December 31, last year.

According to the Order Paper, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Finance and Appropriation, Mrs Bolanle Agbaje (Ibadan North I), was to present the report of the committee, following collation by the Sub-Committees on Appropriation, to ease its passage.

Majority Leader Kehinde Subair moved a motion that the Assembly suspend the passage of the Bill till the next sitting to enable members participate in its discussions.

The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Ademola Ige.

Addressing reporters after the adjournment of plenary, Adeshina assures the people that the absence of 14 lawmakers, which stalled the passage of the Appropriation Bill, was not politically motivated.

The lawmaker promised that efforts would be made to ensure that all members are present on the adjourned date.

He said: “What changed from the Order Paper was that we were unable to form the required quorum due to the fact that some of us are being engaged in campaigns among various parties. We just felt that we should move it till Thursday when the whole Assembly will be present.”

Adeshina added: “It is not a new development. If you checked what happened at the National Assembly last week, you will see that they too were unable to form a quorum because the required number was not on the ground. So, the same thing happened today. That was why we agreed to move it till Thursday for us to pass the budget appropriately.

“There are some statutory jobs of the Assembly that require the presence of two-thirds majority. These include the confirmation of the Chief Judge (CJ) and passing of the budget. They are statutory duties.”

The lawmaker assured the people that there would not be a repeat of such thing ahead of the adjourned as “adequate information will be passed round to all and sundry that they should please create time on Thursday because this is a critical period for all of us”.

Adesina added: “The absence is not politically motivated; that much I can confirm to you.”

The Assembly adjourned till tomorrow.

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