The Kwara House of Assembly, on Friday in Ilorin, passed the state’s 2023 revised supplementary budget of N256.6 billion, against the initial N239.08 billion.

Under the new proposed appropriation, budgetary provisions were increased for critical sectors including education, health, infrastructure, civil servant promotions and Social Investment Programmes in the state.

The revised budget was passed after considering the reports laid before the House by Fatimah Lawal (APC/Ilorin).

Mrs Lawal said the revised estimate contained the recurrent expenditure of N121.4 billion as against N119.09 billion, indicating an increase of N2.3 billion.

As for capital expenditure, it stands at N135.1 billion as against N119.9 billion with a difference of N15.1 billion increase.

She added that the revised estimate was thoroughly scrutinised as relevant government ministries, agencies, parastatals and other stakeholders were invited for clarifications before arriving at the approved budget.

Some of the lawmakers in their contributions said the meticulous submission of the revised estimate by the House committee on finance and appropriation was heart-warming.

They said it was a clear indication that the state legislature was not a rubber stamp but an independent arm of government.

The revised estimate was read for the third time by the Clerk of the House, Ahmed Kareem, prior to its eventual passage.

The speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu (APC/Gwanara), thereafter, directed the Clerk to prepare a clean copy of the revised estimate for the governor’s assent.

(NAN)