The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has officially signed the state’s 2024 supplementary budget into law, a significant move aimed at addressing the state’s evolving financial obligations. Aiyedatiwa emphasized that the decision was necessary to meet the new fiscal commitments of the government and ensure the smooth operation of key programs.

The N96.78 billion supplementary budget, which was approved by the Ondo State House of Assembly, includes provisions for the newly approved minimum wage of N73,000 for state workers. This increase, which was recently sanctioned by Aiyedatiwa, is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of its workforce. The supplementary budget also includes funding for the salaries of newly hired personnel across various sectors, ensuring that fresh recruits are compensated in a timely manner.

With the inclusion of this supplementary budget, the total budget for Ondo State in 2024 now stands at N492.04 billion. This figure encompasses both recurrent expenditure, which totals N246.73 billion, and capital expenditure, which amounts to N245.32 billion. The Governor highlighted that the supplementary budget underscores his administration’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of workers while also focusing on the development of all 18 local government areas in the state.

In a further step towards governance reform, Governor Aiyedatiwa also signed into law a bill that expands the board of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). This new legislation, according to the Governor, is aimed at ensuring more inclusive and equitable representation from the oil-producing areas, thereby promoting fairer development and more balanced growth in the region.