Date: 2016-12-29

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will today present the 2017 budget proposal before the Kwara State House of Assembly, National Pilot can report.

Ahmed informed the lawmakers of the decision to present the budget before the House through a letter that was read at the plenary by the Speaker , Hon (Dr.) Ali Ahmad.

The governor said the decision to formally inform the House of the presentation of the budget tomorrow (Thursday) was in line with section 121(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Tagged 'Presentation of year 2017 budget estimates for legislative approval', the governor said "...Year 2016 is coming to a close... and preparatory to the effective running of government apparatus in year 2017, the budget proposal for the year in question has been prepared and ready for submission...

I therefore wish to formally inform you of my intention to present year 2017 budget proposal to the state House of Assembly in line with section 121(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended..." the letter read.

After the letter was read at the plenary, Ahmed later met with other members of his cabinet to discuss the budget.

A source told this medium that a similar meeting to also discuss the budget among some principal members of the House with the speaker could not hold. No reason was given for the cancellation

There were conflicting reports as to the actual size of the budget to be presented before the lawmakers today.

While a source put the budget figures at N118 billion, another top government source who confided in National Pilot said the amount for the budget was N130 billion. Another source told National Pilot that the budget will focus more on infrastructure economic activities in the state.

The source added that capital expenditure will be higher than recurrent. The budget presentation dominated discussion in high quarters last night in the state as most of the people who spoke on the issue said the state cannot afford not to present the budget before the end of the year.

Last year the Governor initially presented N116 billion before it later jack it up to N128 billion which was later passed by the House.

Meanwhile the Governor will be marking his 53rd birthday anniversary today at the Government House. It was gathered last night that the governor will be having a low-key celebration which will commence with a prayer session at the Government House scheduled for 7am today (Thursday).

The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Muhammad Basheer will lead the prayer session that will feature other dignitaries in the state, including members of his cabinet.

He will leave for the budget presentation at the House of Assembly immediately after the prayer, an insider confirmed to National Pilot last night.