Oshiomhole signs N74.9bn budget

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 15.04.2009

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on Tuesday signed the state’s 2009 amended budget of N74.9 billion.

He promised to ensure aggressive and progressive tax drive to fund the implementation of the budget.

The signing, which was witnessed by the deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Zakawanu Garuba; national leader of the Action Congress (AC), Chief Tom Ikimi; National Vice Chairman (South South) of the AC, Prince Austin and the state chairman of the AC, Prince Tony Omoaghe, among others, took place at the Government House, Benin City.

Oshiomhole said projects that would receive priority attention included the expansion of Ugbowo-Uselu Road and Airport Road and the construction and rehabilitation of Benin Township Road.

He said the disagreement between the executive and the legislature over some of the items in the budget was an example of how the two arms of government should collaborate.

The governor described the disagreement as healthy, saying it helped to remind them that no one arm was vested with all the powers.

He thanked the Speaker and the House for suspending the House rules to bend backwards to reconsider the budget the lawmakers already passed for the benefit of the people.