The Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday halted the legislative process of granting approval to the 2024 supplementary budget over the failure of the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac, to honour the invitation of the parliament.
The lawmakers who were infuriated over the decision of the Finance Commissioner to snub them despite being summoned threatened to issue a bench warrant against her.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had sent a bill to the Assembly to amend the 2024 appropriation bill on the consolidated revenue fund of the state of a sum of N487,437 billion.
With the sum of N246,198 earmarked for recurrent expenditure, N241,239 is for capital expenditure for the services of the state until the end of 2024.
The lawmakers vowed not to pass the bill for a second reading until the Commissioner for Finance appears before the Assembly.
According to the Minority Leader of the Assembly, Olajide Oguntodu (Akure Constituency 1), his colleagues should not approve the letter brought to the Assembly by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, while Felix Afe, representing Akoko Northwest constituency, described the letter as an affront to the people of Ondo State.
“The letter did not state where the Commissioner for Finance went to or when she would come back. We want her to tell us the performance of the budget for 2024.
“Without the appearance of the Commissioner for Finance, we should step it down. If she does not show up next time, the ssembly should issue a bench warrant against her.”
The Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, subsequently ruled that the supplementary budget be stepped down until the commissioner appears before the lawmakers to defend the budget.
The Speaker directed the clerk of the assembly to write another letter for the commissioner to appear before the lawmakers on October 17 fixed for the appearance of the commissioner’s, adding that another failure to honour the invitation may lead to further action.