By Adekunle Ogbonnaiye, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has presented a budget estimate of N93.4 billion to the Ekiti State House of Assembly .
The budget, which is 33 percent higher than the 2016 Budget of N70.5 billion, was christened “Budget of Consolidation and Higher Height.”
Governor Fayose, while appraising the 2016 Budget, said the state only recorded 89 percent performance due to unfavorable economic climate
in the country and which negatively affected the state government.
He said out of proportional estimated revenue of N58.7 billion for 2016, only N52.4 billion was realized as actual revenue.
”The performance of the budget is a reflection of the state of the Nigerian economy. It must be noted that Ekiti State is not immuned to
the shocks and depression of the national socio-economic scene. It is no longer news that the economy of the nation is in trauma and this
had impacted negatively on the finances of the state,” he stated.
However, despite the challenges faced by the government in getting finances for the 2016 Budget, Fayose noted that a lot of projects
were still executed or started.
He listed them to include the construction of the Adunni Olayinka Women Centre, completion of the second phase of the Ikere Road dualisation, dualisation of roads in Efon, Ikole, Omuo among others.
He also mentioned the take off of the state’s Social Security Scheme whereby10,000 people are paid N5,000 stipend monthly.
On the highlights of the 2017 Budget, Governor Fayose said it would focus on the completion of critical projects vital to the administration’s six cardinal programme.
He also said attention would be paid to improving the internally-generated revenue of the state and to curtail extra-budgetary spendings.
For the 2017 Budget estimates, the Recurrent Expenditure is N55.02 billion which is 59 percent of the budget, while Capital Expenditure
is N38.42 billion or 41 percent of the estimates.
Out of the Capital Expenditure, the Economic Sector will have N17.9billion which is 19 percent, Administrative Sector gets N11.5 billion or 12 percent, Social Sector N7.3 billion or 8 percent. Environmental Sector is N1.5bn or 2 percent.
In his speech, the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, commended the governor for his prudent management of the state’s resources. He
gave the assurance that the lawmakers would give speedy consideration to the document.
Meanwhile, Governor Fayose, who described himself as a prophet said he would be going for spiritual vacation from December 14 to come back on the 22, where he is expected to bring out his prophecy for the 2017.
According to him, his 2016 prophecy has come to pass in the country. During the presentation, his comedy was that he is the speaker of the
house and the speaker is the acting speaker.
Fayose noted that all of them are working together for the development of the state.
He also told the people that Nigeria is at war that is why he is put on a camouflage cap to read the budget.
