Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has presented a N100.7billion 2022 budget tagged, “Budget of Legacy and Consolidation,” to the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
The governor gave the breakdown as N60.69bn recurrent expenditure and N40.07 capital expenditure, making a ratio of 60 to 40.
- Convention: We want our candidates emerge via consensus – PDP govs
- Benue traditonal rulers advocate low tariff for hydroelectricity producing areas
Fayemi said the major objective of the budget was to ensure that all ongoing legacy projects including the state Cargo Airport and the new Ado-Iyin Road and other new road projects were completed to consolidate his administration’s plan to transform the state.
He added that the budget was designed to reduce unemployment, attract more investors, ensure smooth transition to the in-coming administration, increase the state’s internally generated revenue, improve security, contain the spread of COVID-19 third wave and reduce its negative impact on the livelihood of the people, among others.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising workers’ welfare, adding that adequate provision had been made in the budget to defray salary arrears inherited from the past administration.
The governor announced that the 2022 budget incorporated the proposal submitted by the other two arms of government to the executive in accordance with the provisions of the fund management law.
He said adequate provision had been made for the completion of ongoing Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) channelisation project at Oke-Ako-Irele and Oye-Ekiti as well as other ongoing ecological projects in the state to prevent ecological degradation and mitigate the risk of climate change.
He explained that governance took the largest chunk of the budget with N36.716bn representing 36 per cent, followed by infrastructure and industrial development with N28.056bn representing 28 percent, knowledge economy N19.71bn representing 20 per cent, social investment N14.063bn representing 14 per cent while Agriculture and rural development got N2.201bn representing 2 per cent.
Fayemi, who commended the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, and other members of the 6th assembly for supporting programmes and policies of the state, reaffirmed his commitment to sustain the harmonious relationship with the legislature and judiciary.
The speaker in his remarks assured the governor of speedy passage by the assembly.
He also commended the governor for the implementation of the 2021 budget.