The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday presented a budget proposal of N103.882 billion for the 2014 financial year, with water supply gulping the lion share.
The budget, which is christened: “Budget of Stability and Growth,” is to be sourced from statutory allocation, VAT, Excess Crude proceed, Internally Generated Revenue, External Grants, MDGs Conditional Grant Scheme, reimbursement on federal roads, ecological fund, bond, FAAC augmentation and transfer from prior fiscal year.
Presenting the appropriation bill, the governor stated that a total of N52,776,226,693.19 billion, representing 51.8 per cent of the proposed budget, will be spent on capital projects while N50,106,166,739.81 billion, representing 48.2 per cent, is for recurrent expenditure.
Fayemi, who also gave a review of the budget performance since 2011 to date, explained that N4.136 billion has been earmarked to boost water supply in the state in response to the demands by many communities during his town hall meetings, which was concluded two weeks ago.
He disclosed that the World Bank has also approved $50 million to support water and sanitation in 2014 while N500 million has been set aside to meet other requests arising from the town hall meetings.
Fayemi said: “We have invested over N1.2 billion in water production in the last three years, with over 157.3 kilometers of water pipe laid in 2011 alone.
“Three water schemes were completed and commissioned in Efon-Alaye, Okemesi and Ido-Ile, while two other schemes in Ipole-Iloro and Erinjiyan Ekiti are nearing completion.
“About 4.0 billion cubic meters of water has been produced and distributed through the water schemes to the various communities in the state during the last two years.”
While stating that infrastructure development is a priority to his administration, the governor stated that the balance of proceeds from the Bond secured by the State Government would be expended on infrastructure, hence a sum of N17,220,000,000 billion of the entire budget has been set aside for recurrent and other capital projects under infrastructure.
Some of the road projects, which will get the attention of the State Government, include to Ipole-Iloro-Ogotun Road, Ido-Ile-Okemesi Junction, Aramoko-Erijinyan-Ikogosi Road, Ayegunle-Ijurin-Iloro Road, Ido-Ipere-Isan- Iludun Road and Ilogbo-Ido Road.
On environment, Fayemi assured the people of the state that considerable attention will be given to Ado Ekiti to make it a model city and reference point among other state capitals while the Urban Renewal Programmes shall be extended to other local government headquarters.
The sector, according to him, is expected to gulp N3,262,245,330.80 billion, with the construction of walk-way and other beautification to cost N100 million.
Sports development gets about N2 billion, Information Services get N580 million, the Education sub-sector is to get N2,464,777,561.52 while N3,516,500,000 is set aside for health programmes.
Agriculture, Rural Development and Community Empowerment gets N5,017,600,000; Industrial Development gets N3,009,000,000; Tourism gets N503,334,523.71 while other statutory institutions get budgets for their subventions.
Fayemi, who reiterated his commitment to the welfare of workers, also assured that N4,300,000,000 has been set aside for the payment of pensions and gratuities of retirees.
He said: “This Administration shall continue to support any scheme that would improve the welfare of the entire workforce.
“This, we have demonstrated in the re- introduction of the cancelled loan schemes.
“Training and re-training of the workforce shall also be accorded a high priority.
“The welfare of our senior citizens, i.e. retired workers, shall also continue to receive adequate attention of this government.
“To this end, a sum of N4,300,000,000.00 has been set aside in the 2014 budget for the payment of pensions and gratuities.”
The governor however promised not to shirk in his “sacred social contract with the people of Ekiti State but will continue to renew them to meet the expectations of the common man.”
In his remarks, the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, commended the Fayemi-led administration on the implementation of the 2013 budget of Consolidation and Economic Empowerment, saying that the implementation though not implemented 100 per cent was impressive and has made the state witness a greater performance, which birthed some landmark projects and programmes.
Omirin expressed satisfaction that despite the meager resources that accrues to the state, government had embarked on massive road projects, water projects, renovation of schools and hospital, social security scheme and community empowerment among others.
He said: “You are aware that in addition to the business of law making, the legislature has the constitutional responsibility of performing oversight functions over the activities of the Executive.
“House Committees at various times inspected projects being executed and had robust engagements with MDAs to ensure that government programmes are well implemented.”
Omirin assured Fayemi that the House will not lose sight of its oversight functions to ensure accountability, transparency and probity in the implementation of the 2014 budget, which he said would be given attention and expeditious passage.
Present at the budget presentation were the Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu; the Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola, led other traditional rulers to the event: which was also graced by members of the State Executive Council.
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