Ondo State government is to expand infrastructure across the state this year with a sum of N76.9billion
This represents 27.9 percent of the total budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
The Commissioner for economic planning and budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan made this known in Akure at a media briefing on the anaylsis of the 2023 budget.
Mr Igbasan also hinted that N45.9billion had been earmarked for the payment of salaries and wages in the year in fulfilment of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s promise not to owe any civil servant in Ondo state.
The commissioner said that Ondo state government planned to boost the education sector with N41.1billion, health would gulp N23.9billion while it hoped to expend N18.8billion naira on agricultural development.
He pointed out that the Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, would get N2billion for the provision of hardware, while N500 million would go for procurement of vehicles.
Mr Igbasan puts the capital expenditure for 2023 fiscal year at N146.14 billion and recurrent expenditure at N97.69 billion, while N32.15 billion was earmarked for other expenses.
The Commissioner explained that the 2023 budget was based on inputs received during town hall meetings held in all the nine federal constituencies “in consonance with other high-level documents of the state.
“Mr Governor has assured us that the budget will be logically implemented to further deliver the dividends of democracy and good governance to our people. Permit me to also solicit the understanding and support of all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) to continue to cooperate and collaborate with one another for the development of a people-centered Ondo State where prosperity, peace and progress shall reign supreme,” he said.
Igbasan appreciated the people of Ondo state for cooperating with government through payment of taxes and levies urging them not to relent.
“On behalf of our Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, I, therefore, convey my earnest gratitude for the cooperation and support that you have willingly given to our administration since inception. This partnership is working and underlies our modest successes in governance and service delivery.
“I also want to appreciate the good people of Ondo State for their fidelity in good and in difficult times; you neither wavered nor flinched in your support and solidarity. We are grateful for your steadfast love, prayers and wise counsel,” Igbasan noted.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa commended the state’s economic team for ensuring smooth implementation of budget annually assuring Ondo state people of a more impactful effect this year.
On his part, the chairman, Ondo state board of internal revenue, Mr Tolu Adegbie hinted that the state generated N31billion from taxes and levies in 2022 and hoped to surpass it in the new year to assist in the funding of the 2023 budget.
The news conference had in attendance Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Prince Leke Adegbite; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Bayo Phillips, his Finance Counterpart, Mr Jide Ekpobomini and other top Civil Servants.