THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GOVERNOR LUCKY AIYEDATIWA'S FIRST BUDGET

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GOVERNOR LUCKY AIYEDATIWA’S FIRST BUDGET

By Comrade Allen Sowore, Esq

On December 30, 2024, the Ondo State Governor, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, signed the 2025 appropriation bill into law. Earlier, the State House of Assembly had meticulously scrutinized the proposed figures for various subheads before approving a total budget of ₦698,659,496,000 for the 2025 fiscal year.

The budget allocates ₦265,037,496,000 (37.94%) to recurrent expenditure and ₦433,622,000,000 (62.06%) to capital expenditure.

This marks the first budget fully developed and signed by Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration. Although the Governor signed the 2024 budget, it was an inherited document following the unfortunate passing of the late Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. Appropriately, the 2025 budget has been titled the “Budget of Recovery,” symbolizing the administration’s commitment to restoring the state’s dignity and liberating it from past political challenges.

A critical analysis of the budget figures reveals a significant departure from previous trends where recurrent expenditure often eclipsed capital expenditure. In the Budget of Recovery, resources allocated to capital projects (₦433,622,000,000) nearly double those earmarked for recurrent expenditure (₦265,037,496,000). This demonstrates a strategic emphasis on development and infrastructure over routine administrative costs.

Furthermore, the 2025 budget focuses on critical sectors of the economy by channeling substantial resources into agriculture, infrastructure, education, and health. It is an ambitious, forward-thinking plan designed to revitalize the state’s economy through a holistic approach to recovery and growth. Clearly, this is the right path toward sustainable development.

During the signing ceremony, Governor Aiyedatiwa reiterated that the budget’s primary goal is to improve the quality of life for the people of Ondo State. He assured citizens that this objective is both sacrosanct and non-negotiable.

Having recently secured the people’s mandate for a fresh four-year term, commencing February 24, 2025, the Governor has ushered in what can aptly be described as the “Lucky Years.” This new era symbolizes prosperity and improved living conditions, where governance prioritizes enhancing the quality of life for all. It is an all-inclusive governance. Even the weakest in the society will be carried along.

As the first of the “Lucky Budgets,” the 2025 fiscal plan sets a promising tone for the administration’s future. It ensures that state resources are invested wisely to secure the well-being and prosperity of Ondo State’s residents.

Without a doubt, by the end of the implementation of this inaugural budget, critics of this new administration will voluntarily fade into irrelevance and political obscurity. Governor Aiyedatiwa has proven himself to be a methodical and resourceful manager of the state’s affairs, and his actions will speak louder than words.

Allen Sowore Esq.
SSA to the Governor on Strategic Communication
31st December, 2024