Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Yunus Akintunde, has said that the media creation of ‘budget padding’ does not exist.
Akintunde said the Senate, and indeed lawmaking processes, become weak and parliament ‘rubber stamp’ when budgetary proposals are returned to the executive arm of government without legislative inputs.
The lawmaker stated this on Saturday at Legislative-Public Forum at the 3rd Olu Afolabi Roundtable, organised by community development group, Oyo Global Forum (OGF), in Oyo Town, Oyo State.
Akintunde, who was a panelist alongside other Federal and State lawmakers from Town, blamed the media for erroneously ascribing inclusive budgeting inputs made to accommodate every constituency projects as ‘padding’.
“There is nothing like budget padding. It is the creation of the media. When a budget comes from the executive to the chambers, what are we expected to do with it but to make legislative inputs that would accommodate omitted projects.
“Those that prepare budgets are civil servants whose attention don’t always capture the needs of our constituents, that is where we come in as lawmakers to ensure that everyone is well treated. So, what is the padding about?” Akintunde queried.
On his part, Member representing Oyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, said lawmakers are sent to the different Legislative Houses with the major role of making legislations for development and good governance.
“That is our major duty. But when people ask us to do everything, it behoves on us to strive by lobbying and networking with our colleagues in the Assembly, either at the Federal or State legislature through which we can facilitate and attract necessary infrastructure and developmental projects,” Adeyemi said.
He expressed the confidence in all elected lawmakers from the four local government areas comprising Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West, to work together for the best interest of the people.
The lawmaker representing Atiba State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Gbenga Oyekola, commended the organisers of the summit, disclosing that as an advocate of local government autonomy, he would continue to lend his voice and support for all efforts to free the local government system for impactful purpose at the grassroots.
“I am a former chairman of Atiba local government and I know what it means when the local government can exercise certain responsibilities aside from what is presently obtainable. When the time is ripe to take a position on the autonomy of local government, I will say ‘Yes’,” Oyekola said.
For his part, a former chairman of OGF and lawmaker representing Oyo East/Oyo West in the State Assembly, Hon. Rahaman Olorunpoto, pledged that as the chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, he would continue to safeguard the interest of his people, particularly the larger interest that attract significant development to the ancient city and the State, collaborating with all lawmakers regardless of party affiliations.
Earlier, the keynote speaker at the event, Dr. Sulleiman Adediran, noted that, “A key objective of OGF is to mobilise the collective energy of communities within the Oyo Federal Constituercy (OFC) for positive sction, adding that the Olu Afolabi Roundtable (OAR) serves as a tool towards achieving our objcctive as it enables us to bring groups within our communities together to discuss issues relating to our development as a people.
“Today’s gathering exemplifies this stance. OGF has proven to be non-partisan and genuinely invested in social development. It has the highest concentration of professionals of Oyo extraction at home ard abroad under one umbrella. Ours is truly, a global forum with expertise and exposure in community development practices.
“This year’s OAR is unique because we have brought together our compatriots who hold the people’s democratic mandate. It is an opportunity to work together to drive change. I urge our palitical leaders to collaborate and partner with OGF while using their power of representation to leverage their offices for community impact,” the former World Bank and UNICEF Consultant urged.
He further called for unity in the commitment to build a stronger and more inclusive community that represents the voice of the people.
“Let us work together to set up an agenda that will create a brighter future where everyone can thrive,” Adediran urged.
Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Taiwo Adebayo, in his welcome address commended the lawmakers for making time out to be at the event, and offering to interact with their constituents to give accounts of their legislative stewardship in the last one year and listening to the people in setting agenda for the future.