By Tunde Akinlabi
The Executive Chairman, Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Èkìtì State, Hon. Sola Ogunshina has presented a total of three billion, five hundred and sixty five million, eight hundred and eighty four thousand, eight, hundred and ninety five naira, sixty two kobo (N3,565,884,895.62K) as the 2023 appropriation bill to the legislative arm of the government (councilors) in Ido-Ekiti.
Ogunshina presented the budget, tagged: ‘Budget of consolidation to the lawmakers, during a plenary, presided over by the leader of the house, Mr. Adebayo Ilori at the legislative chamber of the council in Ido-Ekiti.
The council boss while presenting the budget said it would cover capital expenditures, overhead costs and social welfare, among others.
The Chairman while reviewing the performance of the year 2022 budget described as worrisome, as he said the local government largely depends on the statutory allocation from the Federal Government, stressing that the internally generated revenue was nothing to write home about, consider the fact that the residents are not responding to various payments.
He added that his administration has put all machineries in motion to ensure significant improvement on the IGR of the council, stressing that it’s a paremeter by which the Federal Government used to allocate resources.
The council boss who further posited that the year 2023 budget proposal was prepared with a sense of responsibility, with high degree of hope and optimism, dwelt on the recurrent revenue estimates, while he explained the main five sources of revenue accruing to local council, which he said include; the statutory allocation from the federation account, share from the state IGR, Internally Generated Revenue, value added tax and excess crude oil.
While speaking on the capital expenditure for the year 2023, Ogunshina told the gathering that the budget will Key-into the six point agenda of the present administration in the state, adding that it would take care of the expectation of the entire citizens of Ido/Osi Local Government Area to improve the standard of their living and bring hope to them.
“Your Royal Majesty, Community Leaders and Gentlemen here present, this “Budget of Consolidation” keyed into the Six (6) point agenda of His Excellency, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, Executive Governor of Ekiti State as his pathway to prosperous Ekiti land”.
“This sector is to take care of the expectation of the entire citizenry of Ido/Osi Local Government, improve the standard of living and bring more dividends of democracy to my people. To achieve this, various projects that will directly improve the socio-economic lives of our people have been proposed in the year 2023 financial estimate”.
Ogunshina who reiterated the Commitment of his administration to youth development also pledged that his administration would commit about thirty five million naira to the sector, adding that his government is striving hard to create a skill acquisition centre where trades like hairdressing, vulcanizing, computer literacy and application among others could be learnt at the grassroot.
He further opined that he still planned to pump a total sum of 19 million naira to upgrade the information communication centre located within the council Secretariat to enhance e-library and a standard learning hub which he said will make the local council a cynosure of every eyes in the State.
“The youths are the future of tomorrow “, this implies that any investment on the youth is an investment for a better tomorrow. On this note, my administration will strive to create a skill acquisition centre where trades like Hairdressing, Vulcanizing, Computer literacy and application, Tailoring etc. could be learnt. I plan to spend a sum of Thirty Four Million and Five Hundred thousand Naira 434, 500,000:00 on this” .
Ogunshina who expressed the optimism that the budget would facilitate rapid development for the residents of the local government Area , also said his administration has earmarked over one billion naira of the capital expenditure for human capital development to increase innovation, social well-being, increased productivity for economic growth.
On Agriculture and rural development, the Council boss explained his resolve to reduce unemployment through farming, by involving the youths and encouraging agro-allied products as he pointed out that such will make the local government Area, the food basket of the state.
Part of the Budgetary provision the Council Chairman earmarked funds for include; Governance, infrastructure, industrialisation, art, culture and tourism which he said would be faced with the certain percentage of the budget.
“My intention in this fiscal year is to put more effort in education through Bursary, School Debates; active sponsoring of Junior Engineering Technicians (JET); various Financial Assistances; Local Emergency Management (LEMA); office running’s, various empowerment programmes; to mention but a few. A sum of Six Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-One Naira, Sixty-Three kobo (N652, 726,491:63) only is earmarked for good governance and it makes 18.31% of the capital expenditure for the fiscal year 2023”.
Ogunshina who expressed the optimism that the budget would facilitate rapid development for the residents of the council, said no government can provide all the needs of it’s people, urged all the residents and citizens of the Local Government to compliment the efforts of the council in the provision of social amenities across all towns and villages that make up the local government area .
Traditional rulers, politicians, civil servants, youths, market women among others were present at the presentation of the budget proposal.
