Governor Ayodele
Fayose of Ekiti State has presented a budget of N98.6 billion for approval to
the State House of Assembly for the year 2018, saying he is accomplished by
what his administration has achieved in the last three years in the face of
serious economic and political challenges.
The governor, who
presented the budget on the floor of the Assembly, on Tuesday, also presented
his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, to the lawmakers as his preferred candidate
for next year’s governorship election, and expressed optimism that Olusola
would be the person to present the 2019 Budget to the legislators.
In a statement by the
governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti, the 2018
Budget is about six percent higher than the 2017 Budget of N93.09 billion and
is christened ‘Budget of Accomplishment’.
The budget has N66.4
billion going to Recurrent Expenditure, while Capital Expenditure is expected
to gulp the sum of N32.1 billion.
The objectives of the
2018 Budget include the completion of critical ongoing capital projects, to
improve internally generated revenue, improve education, health services,
sustenance of good governance among others.
Reviewing the three
previous budgets he presented in 2015, 2016 and 2017, Fayose noted that they
performed at 66, 75 and 66 percent, a higher level than those of the Federal
Government.
Giving his words to
the people of the state on the focal points of the budget, the governor gave
the completion dates of major ongoing capital projects.
“By the grace of God,
the High Court Complex will be completed and inaugurated by the end of March
2018, the New Governor’s Office by April 2018, the flyover by May 2018 and the
new Ojaba Market by the first week of July, 2018. This is my last budget
presentation as the governor of the state. We will complete all ongoing
projects.
” We are also
realistic about our expectation as far as revenue generation is concerned and
we have not set ourselves on a needless high horse. As for the issue of
outstanding workers’ salaries, we still rank among the best in the region and
the nation. I am positive that we won’t leave office debtors of salaries.
“Apart from presenting
the budget, I also crave the indulgence of the honourable members to present my
deputy, who I strongly believe will be the person to present the 2019 Budget to
the Assembly, Prof Kolapo Olusola. We have to allow for continuity for the good
works to continue and for our state to move forward,” he stated.
In his welcome speech,
the Speaker, Rt Hon. Kola Oluwawole, said because the lawmakers were part of
the drafting of the document, it would not take much time to pass it into law.
He commended the
governor for structuring the budget within expected revenue profile.
“The legislature as
arm of government will not shy away from performing its duties. Governor
Ayodele Fayose’s open door policy, prudent management of resources and
accessibility are worth commending. People have found accommodation and succour
under him.
“Dwindling oil revenue
is a a lesson for us not to put all our eggs in one basket. The immediate past
administration compounded our economic situation by unbridled borrowing and
engagement in frivolous projects and we are paying for it now, as a large chunk
of our monthly allocation is deducted to service debts,” he added.
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