Members of the Kwara State House of Assembly have picked holes in the 2016 Appropriation bill by the State Government just as the bill passed its second reading.

According to the Deputy Speaker, Hon Matthew Okedare, during a debate on the budget at Thursday's plenary, the budget should include funds for the provision of farm implements.

While calling for the provision of funds for the purchase of farm implements like Tractors, harvesters, bulldozers, mowing machines amongst other farm implements, the Deputy Speaker noted that the availability of farm implements would provide employment and bumper harvest for the farmers.

He said that the non-provision of these equipments would not aid the development of agriculture in the state adding that such move would also ensure diversification of the state economy.

Okedare however praised members for the thorough debate on the Appropriation bill and directed the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to ensure that the State Commissioners for Finance, Economic Planning and Special Adviser on Investment were part of further considerations on the budget estimate to ensure the passage of a realistic budget for the State.

He thereafter referred the Appropriation Bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative process and directed the Committee to submit report to the House within 2 weeks.

It would be recalled that the federal government have advised states in the country to look inward in sourcing for funds in the light of the continuous drop in the country's revenue as a result of dwindling oil prices. Stakeholders have equally called on states to develop its non-oil sectors that include agriculture and other mineral sectors with improvement on internally generated revenue.

In his submission, Folorunsho Abodunrin (APC, lsin constituency) called for inclusion of provision for ecology to cater for unforeseen natural disasters that may bedevil that state. House Deputy Chief Whip, however expressed concern over the huge sum of money that would serve as loan repayment and called for proper monitoring of the state public debt service.

She expressed delight that the budget focuses on consolidation of what had been achieved and emphasized the need to have realistic budget to achieve stability and accelerated development of the State.

In their contributions, Members representing Owode/Onire, Ilorin North/West, Ilesha/Gwanara and Edu Constituencies, Alhaji Rasheed Abdullahi, Hon AbdulRafiu AbdulRahman, Alhaji Umar Gunu and Alhaji Ishiaku Adams respectively emphasised the need for the State government to focus more on non-oil revenue by exploring the state's agricultural potentials to diversify the State's economy.

They noted that the current economic reality in the country made it imperative for the State Government to give priority to the state's agrarian sector for the overall development of the State.

Members representing Irepodun, Isin, Kaiama Constituencies, Hon Mathew Babaoye, Emmanuel Abodunrin and Suleiman Ba'aziki respectively urged the legislators to allocate more funds to Ecology, Environment, Energy, Works and Transport to further enhance the wellbeing of the people of the State.

They however emphasised the need for the House to ensure consistent oversight function to ensure that the budget achieved its intended purposes. The leader of the House, Hon Hassan Oyeleke then urged relevant Committees to ensure that projects which have bearing to the respective constituencies and their constituents in the state were included in the budget to further improve on the wellbeing of the people of the State.