Amidst the celebrations of the New year and reactions to the recently passed and approved appropriation bills, the 2024 Budget, the Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District at the Senate, Dr Yunus Akintunde has assured Nigerians to remain calm and optimistic, expressing confidence towards the 2024 budget implementation.
This is contained in a statement made available to OYOMIND by Kunle Olatunji, the Head Media Unit and Special Assistant on Media and Publicity for Senator Dr. Yunus Abiodun Akintunde.
According to him, “The challenge most times in our clime is not about the content of past budgets but in the efficient implementation and management of allocated resources to the MDAs and essential government systems and processes.”
He further emphasized that the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and processes currently put in place by the various arms of government will ensure transparency, accountability and commitment to efficient and effective implementation of the contents of the 2024 budget.
Responding to questions during series of interviews, Senator Akintunde confirmed the tenacity and commitment of the National Assembly on the thoroughness in the scrutiny of the budget before it was passed and received Presidential approval.
The budget totalling about N28.77 trillion Naira will be targeting critical aspects of the economy that will definitely create and add values then fast track trajectory economic growth and rapid transformation of the Nigerian economy with timelines.
We at the Senate and the House of Representatives during our separate and joint sessions, committee levels, did not spare efforts at ensuring that every aspect of the budget was properly assessed and thoroughly scrutinized for optimal identification of key performance indicators and adequate resource allocation to the various government systems and processes.
However, he was quick to appreciate the capacity of the Executive arm of government ably led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Team at the Cabinet, Heads of Departments and Agencies to ensure excellent implementation of the budget provisions while he is optimistic about the efficiency of the legislative and judiciary arms of government to regularly monitor and check on the performance of the budget at intervals.
“Today, we can truly boast of capable hands managing the affairs of governance at all arms of government at the Federal levels and hopefully the same position is the case in many States of the Federation.”
Akintunde therefore urged Nigerians to remain calm and be sensitive in their various endeavours admonishing individuals and corporate engagements to take full advantages of the benefits of the provisions of the budget during implementation, especially as contained in the budget presentation to the National Assembly,
He said ” a close observation of the contents of of the 2024 budget adequately captured the present administration’s 8 priority areas to include national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security.
“Very clearly, these are pointers targeting enterprise promotion which I opine as very critical to national growth and development. Only discerning minds with positive inclinations can appreciate and take advantages of the situation.”
This is an aspect that will attract the focus of my commitment to Nigerians, the citizens of Oyo State in general and my people in Oyo Central senatorial district in particular.
Senator Akintunde among his several laudable achievements has secured several job opportunities for individuals from his constituency, recently, he also secured approval of N1.5B for the construction of Ayegun – Oleyo road Oluyole LGA captured in the 2023 supplementary budget while he successfully ensured the passage of his motion against increment of electricity tarrifs that has saved Nigerians pains and agonies after the removal of the fuel subsidy at the advent of this administration.
He affirmed his confidence in the commitment and capacity of the present President Tinubu’s led administration to achieve desired rapid growth and development in Nigeria and ultimately improve on the living standard of the citizenry within the next few months.
