By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has said that his administration will no longer sponsor seminars, workshops that add no direct values to the people of the state.
Oyebanji said that in line with his administration’s vision to reduce governance cost, his administration had directed that Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) should adhere to the new development.
He gave the directive on Thursday, while presenting the proposed 2023 Appropriation Bill of over N113.6 billion to the State House of Assembly.
The proposed budget which is christened,”Budget of Strong Beginning” was presented by Oyebanji at Thursday’s plenary sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Hakeem Jamiu, in Ado-Ekiti.
The motion for admission of the governor into the chamber was moved by the Majority Leader, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, APC, Ikole Constituency 1 and seconded by Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba APC Emure Constituency in pursuant to Section 121(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of Nigeria.
According to the governor, the recurrent expenditure of over N80.36 billion takes about 70 per cent, while the capital expenditure of over N34.06 billion takes 30 per cent of the total proposed budget size.
Oyebanji in his speech, reiterated the commitment of his administration at making live meaningful to the people, saying the infrastructure sector would receive much attention in the 2023 budget.
He said to reduce dependence on the dwindling Federal Allocation, the proposed budget will focus more on how to increase the Internally Generated Revenue,(IGR).
He further said government will invest more in the provision of infrastructure like water, roads, electricity and housing among others with a proposed budget of over N15.7 billion(46.2 per cent)
He explained that government focused on the infrastructure sector was aimed at making the state economic viable by creating the enabling environment for investors to prefer the state.
“My vision is for Ekiti to be a land of prosperity and opportunity for all. The 2023 proposed budget is developed in line with my adminstration’s six points agenda.
“The drafting of the budget, which is all inclusive participation, is aimed at creating the enabling environment for the state to strive,” Gov. Oyebanji said.
He, therefore, called for the cooperation of members of the State Assembly and the entire Ekiti people to ensure that his administration deliver more dividends of democracy to the state, promising to be open and transparent in his policies implementation.
Earlier, in his address, the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti House of Assembly, who presided over the plenary, assured of the continued support of the legislature to deepening democracy in the state.
Jamiu lauded Governor Oyebanji for hitting the ground running, saying that his action demonstrated the seriousness of purpose the new administration was bringing into governance.
He said, “We commend your proactive measures put in place since the inauguration of your government three weeks ago.”
