Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law.
The governor also signed into law the Contributory Health Insurance Bill and the Social Protection Law.
The House of Assembly, last year, approved the N181 billion budget.
Signing the budget and the bills into law at the Governorโs Office, Akeredolu said the laws would enhance development, if properly implemented.
The governor said his intention was to take governance to residents through people-oriented programmes to take care of their needs.
He said his administration would concentrate more on capital expenditure to abridge huge infrastructural deficit.
Akeredolu, who decried the huge concentration of budgets on recurrent expenditure, noted that the rate of development in Ondo State was worrisome.
The governor said he was prepared to develop the state and make it the envy of others.
The capital expenditure for the fiscal year is N80 billion; debt service N13.600 billion and statutory transfers to local governments N8.307 billion.
On the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme law, the governor said it would ensure that every resident has access to good health care services.
He said: โThe bill will ensure that all residents of Ondo State have financial protection, physical access to quality and affordable health care services. It will also protect families from the financial hardship posed by huge medical bills and regulate the rise in the cost of health care services.
โIt will ensure that the poor and vulnerable are guaranteed the basic minimum package as defined under the National Health Act.โ
Akeredolu said the bill would bring equitable distribution of health care costs across various income groups and maintain a high standard of health care delivery in the sector.
According to him, the bill will provide efficiency in health care service delivery and improve private sector participation in health care services, among others.
The governor was accompanied by House of Assembly Speaker Bamidele Oleyeloogun and other top officials.
Also, Akeredolu approved the constitution of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).
The seven-man electoral commission is headed by Prof Yomi Dinakin.
Other members are: Dr. Soji Omowole, Oladele Akinyelure, Tunde Adeleye, Mrs. Stella Omotosho, Taju Ibrahim and Rotimi Olorunfemi.
The names will be sent to the House of Assembly for confirmation.
