The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday, presented a budget estimate of N113,572,718,523.82 to the House of Assembly for the 2023 fiscal year aimed at building on a foundation already laid for the development of the state.
Christened “Budget of Strong Beginning,” it has a total sum of N80,362,578,854.29 as recurrent expenditure and a sum of N34,062,085,464.93 as capital expenditure, according to a press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olayinka Oyebode.
The figure is about N13 billion higher than the last budget of N100,753,933,241.60 presented by the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in December 2021, which was tagged “Budget of Legacy and Consolidation.”
Oyebanji stated that the 2023 proposed budget was designed to address the challenges posed to subnational, national and global economies and the ripple effects of the economic downturn.
He disclosed that the budget, which was largely the product of citizen’s engagement programme he had with stakeholders from towns and villages across the three senatorial districts of the state, was designed to ensure that the internally generated revenue of the state is increased to reduce the dependence of the state on federal allocation.
He added that the 2023 budget was anchored on his administration’s six pillars for Ekiti development which include Youth Development and Job Creation, Human Capital Development, Agricultural and Rural Development, Infrastructure and Industrialization, Arts, Culture and Tourism, and Governance.
The budget presentation which held at the chambers of the State House of Assembly Complex, Ado-Ekiti, was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, heads of tertiary institutions, leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress and party faithful.
Speaking on what the budget aims to achieve, Oyebanji said, “Our goal is to safeguard our people’s lives, livelihoods, well-being and future. It is to create shared prosperity for all and to grow the economy, equip our people with valuable skills, create jobs, and expand the range of opportunities available for everyone.
“It is to create a conducive environment for investors to thrive in our economy, and to make Ekiti State the preferred destination to live, work, and invest. Let me assure you that the Budget I just presented represents the plan, policies and programmes designed by our Administration to achieve the collective aspirations of the good people of this state in my first year in office.
“While I am in a hurry to develop all sectors of our economy, I am mindful of the challenge of limited resources. However, the pact I signed with Ekiti State is four years in the first instance.
“Our administration will make concerted efforts to touch and transform every sector of the economy as we journey in my tenure as your Governor. All the lofty ideas I have conceived cannot be realised without your support.
“Having been building on the foundation laid by my predecessor, it is my honour and pleasure to present the 2023 Budget Estimate which I have christened ‘BUDGET OF STRONG BEGINNING. We are starting strong because we are not starting afresh.”
“There is no denying the fact that successive administrations have made impressive achievements in the development of our state. With all sense of humility, I acknowledge the solid foundation made by the immediate past administration in the quest to develop Ekiti State. The numerous legacy projects executed by the administration have undoubtedly, laid a solid foundation for our administration to leverage on,” he said.
