Budget Financing: Aregbesola Replies Omisore; Says Taxable Citizens Should Pay #5000 Monthly To Govt

Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the cross over concert in Osogbo

As the year 2018 finally arrives, Osun state is no doubt one of the States that will be in the radar of the world due to governorship election. Politicians in the state also have been making subtle preparation through out year 2017 in so many ways. One of those ways is to air diverse opinions on state matters.


The latest came from former deputy governor of the state and Chairman senate committee on appropriation at the sixth senate Iyiola Omisore taking a jibe at the 2018 budget proposal of governor Rauf Aregbesola.


Omisore insisted that there is no way the government will have the capacity to prosecute the 173.8 Billion Naira 2018 budget proposal due to the enormous debt rate and huge uncompleted projects in at hand.


Omisore speaking in Osogbo on the 31st of December 2017 queried where the funds to execute the budget would come from and said for a state that announced it could only implement only 50% of the 2017 budget, "another bogus estimates with no clear means of financing it is nothing, but a ruse".



"What is the big deal in Osun's 2018 budget when the cost of uncompleted projects in the state is as huge as N500 billion? How relevant are these budgets to the well being of Osun people?


"Answers to all these budget are evident on the faces of Osun people. There is hunger in the land. Pension and salaries are not being paid. But all these will be addressed when we make right choice through our votes in 2018 and 2019," Omisore said.

Dr. iyiola Omisore 

But in his new year speech, Governor Rauf Aregbesola made remark on how the 2018 budget should be financed saying if all taxable adults are to pay 250 Naira daily to the government coffers for twenty days, it will be enough to execute all of government's business.


"All of us should pay our taxes, rates, levies, fees, fines and other financial obligations to the state. From our population, if one million of us productively engaged can contribute N250 for 20 days in a month, we will be able to raise N5 billion. This will enable us comfortably pay our workers and pensioners full salaries, run the government, provide infrastructure and carry out social protection services for all the people.

“All the things we desire like good roads, functional education, recreational facilities, security of life and property and a conducive environment for the pursuit of happiness and so on can best be provided by the government. No individual or private organisation can provide them to the satisfaction of all the people.

“This is why we all need to support the government by fulfilling our financial obligations to it in order for it to be able to carry out all its projects satisfactorily too." Aregbesola submitted.