FY 2014 Budget Speech by
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
on the occasion of the
Presentation of the FY 2014 Budget Proposal
to the Ekiti State House of Assembly
Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Protocols
It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome you all to the presentation of the Budget Proposal for the Financial Year 2014. First and foremost, permit me to thank God Almighty who has made it possible for me to be here in person to deliver the last budget speech of my first term in office as the Governor of Ekiti State.
I thank the Rt. Honourable. Speaker, all other Principal Officers and Honourable members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, our Elders, Party Leaders and Royal Fathers for honouring us with your esteemed presence at this very important annual event that helps us to chart the course for the future of our dear State. May I also warmly welcome our friends from the High Commission of the United Kingdom to Nigeria led by the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter, who are here on a working visit to the land of honour and graciously agreed to join me as observers at the most significant formal Executive/Legislature interaction in the year – you are welcome.
Permit me Honourable Speaker to go down memory lane. During my inauguration as Governor on Saturday, October 16, 2010, I stated that:
“…the good people of Ekiti State own this Government, and I will respect the opinions and aspirations of everybody irrespective of their affiliations”.
It is therefore noteworthy that in fulfillment of this promise, starting from my first Budget in office tagged ‘Budget of Renewal’ for the 2011 Fiscal year to the 2013 ‘Budget of Empowerment and Consolidation’, we have consulted widely with all and sundry in the development of these budgets. This is why the budgets have always been well received by all stakeholders as a reflection of our collective aspirations for accelerated growth and development across all sectors of the state’s economy.
In crafting these Budgets – Budget 2011, 2012 and 2013 – our competent technocrats across the various ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs] have worked consciously with the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery and the Governor’s Office to aggregate the opinions espoused by the people during my various Village Square meetings that took me to all communities in Ekiti state. I am glad that we have demonstrated that Participatory Budgeting as a governance principle is not only practicable, but is an imperative for the deepening of the democratic culture in any society.
Today, I stand before God and you distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, to present the 2014 Budget, which as usual, has been prepared with the strategic underpinning of making poverty history and life more abundant for our people.
As you are all aware, the Annual Budget is the most effective instrument for the formulation, implementation and execution of government’s plans and programmes. By extension, it is a means by which resources available to government within a financial year are estimated and allocated to socially and economically productive sectors of the economy for the incoming year. A well-planned Budget is an instrument of economic policy, accountability and resource management. It is not only a control mechanism, but a guide for human and materials management. It ensures fiscal discipline and also curtails unnecessary expenditure. As an instrument of economic policy and fiscal control, the annual Budget indicates the direction of the economy and expresses intentions regarding the utilisation of scarce resources through allocation amongst various sectors. Therefore, the annual Budget plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Government remains focused on its commitment to set goals and targets.
When I presented the previous Budget proposals before this flagship House of Assembly, I indicated some of the key challenges we foresaw which had the potential to hinder optimal implementation; we were nonetheless determined as a government to forge ahead in serving our people to the best of our ability. It is therefore rational; to review our performances in the past three years against our historical context, whilst also reviewing where we are now and where we intend to be in the future.
Rt. Honourable Speaker Sir, before I go into the details of what we have been able to accomplish in the last three years, it is pertinent to re-state some of the key challenges that stared us in the face on assumption of office on Saturday, October 16, 2010.
As has been previously widely communicated, this administration inherited an intimidating debt burden of N42 billion with many uncompleted and abandoned projects as well as heavy arrears of pensions and gratuities. Up to date, this administration has paid a whopping sum of N4.993 billion and N2.149 billion as pensions and gratuities respectively. In addition, promotions of civil servants were in arrears, while car and housing loans had been completely stopped. We have since restored hope to the Public Service through various reforms and interventions. The Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki dual carriage road is a a good example of these abandoned projects. This road project had gulped 80 percent of the contract sum with less than 20 percent level of work done when we assumed office. From the less than 20 percent completion level that we met the project, it has now reached about 90 percent completion and speedily nearing conclusion and commissioning.
Also, the State was receiving about N2.8 billion monthly from the Federation Accounts which has since decreased to N2.5 billion by 2012 and had continued to decline further in 2013. In addition, resources from the federation account have been irregular with dire prospects for the months ahead. Out of these meager resources, the State pays an average of N2.0 billion as salaries and wages to our workers and pensioners. Also, with our expenses on our Social Security Scheme for the elderly and the Youth Volunteer scheme, we are left with barely N300 million for every other task for which my administration carries the heavy burden of the people’s trust.
This administration inherited a system of stunted Internally-Generated Revenue [IGR] of about N109 million monthly. However, we deployed our ingenuity to increase that within one year to N600 million. This feat was made possible not by the introduction of new taxes, but by blocking existing loopholes in tax administration and management. Our focus in the years ahead is to develop the informal sector of the state economy with a view to widening the tax base and aggressively tapping other tax potentials in the state without inflicting undue pains on the citizenry.
Review of 2011, 2012 and 2013 Budgets
Rt. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is expedient that I review the performance of the three previous annual budgets starting with 2011 Budget. The Rt. Honourable Speaker would recall that the size of the approved 2011 Budget was N80.779 billion which was later reviewed to N82.512 billion to realign Government priorities in a way that would directly address infrastructural deficit in the state, and put in place building blocks for economic prosperity and wealth creation. The total expected revenue at the end of 2011 was N82.512 billion while the actual revenue realized in the period under review was N87.418 billion, accounting for an impressive 106 percent performance level. Ordinarily, the performance looked impressive and pleasing on paper, but one should not lose sight of the huge developmental gaps in the state and the low performance of our Internally Generated Revenue [IGR] which recorded 29 percent performance. We were not deterred by this performance as our monthly IGR steadily rose from an average of N109 million when I came on board in late 2010 to N300 million by May 2011, and further leaped to N550 million by the last month of the year. Overall, we generated an remarkable figure of N3.041 billion from January to December 2011.
The IGR target of our Administration in year 2012 was a minimum of N500 million per month for both peak and off-peak seasons. The building blocks of our tax reform strategy was to block all existing leakages, focus on fewer tax categories, simplify tax administration, introduce the electronic receipts system and widening the tax base by getting more citizens into gainful employment. All lawful measures were deployed to attain this monthly target. Our efforts eventually paid-off as IGR leaped from N3.041 billion in 2011 to N12.890 billion by the end of 2012. This implied an all time record of 423.9 percent increase in IGR. I want to salute everybody that in one way or the other contributed to this very outstanding positive performance. In the same 2012, total revenue realized stood at N92.935 billion giving an overall performance level of 94 percent. It is noteworthy that our gain in IGR was negatively affected by the new tax law of the federal government. Also, our performance on external sources such as Federal Allocation, VAT and Excess-Crude funds has been sub-optimal in recent times due to the volatility of the federation accounts.
Budget 2013 was christened the “Budget of Empowerment and Consolidation” with a total size of N97.617 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditure. While the Capital vote gulped N49.164 billion or 50.4 percent of the budget, the recurrent expenditure accounted for the balance of N48.465 billion or 49.6 percent of total. However, this was revised upward to N101.503 billion in order to grow the economy and accelerate development by investing more in infrastructural facilities and ancillary services. In order words, additional N8.1 billion was injected during the 5+7 review of the annual budget to boost the delivery of tangible dividends of democracy to our people in both urban and rural communities, with the impact are being felt in all the nook and crannies of the state.
The table below provides further insight to the performance of the three annual Budgets over the period under review:
Annual Budget Performance level for 2011, 2012 and 2013
S/No. | Particulars | 2011 [N’Billion] | 2012 [N’Billion] | 2013 [N’Billion] |
1. | Total approved Budget [Revised estimate] | 82.512 | 98.785 | 101.503 |
2. | Total Revenue realized | 87.418 | 92.935 | 60.728 |
[a] | Percentage performance | 106% | 94% | 60% |
3. | Statutory Allocation from FAAC | 27.436 | 28.527 | 26.990 |
4. | IGR from all sources | 3.041 | 12.890 | 6.082 |
5. | Value Added Tax [VAT] | 6.074 | 6.745 | 6.031 |
6. | Internal borrowing/ Bond | 37.836 | 3.902 | - |
7. | FAAC Augmentation/ Excess Crude | 6.121 | 9.890 | 4.010 |
8. | SURE-P | 3.471 | 0.036 | 1.860 |
9. | Reserve transfer from the previous year | 2.609 | 27.050 | 8.885 |
10. | Recurrent Expenditure | 49.089 | 59.240 | 31.443 |
11. | % Performance Recurrent Exp | 117.9% | 107.7% | 67.8% |
12. | Capital Expenditure | 11.279 | 28.743 | 14.490 |
13. | % Performance – Capital Exp. | 27.6% | 65.7% | 61.5% |
14. | Total Expenditure | 60.368 | 87.983 | 45.933 |
15. | % Performance – Total Exp. | 73% | 89% | 64.7% |
In spite of the obvious challenges as depicted in the table above, we have been able to record monumental achievements in all sectors of the Ekiti state economy over the past three years. Let me quickly take you on an excursion of our major achievements in the last three years.
Our major achievements so far
It is gratifying to elaborate on how much we have been able to achieve in three years, despite all the odds. I am particularly grateful that we have not betrayed the trust that was vested in us by the people of Ekiti State as they have now become the champions of our governance ethos. The cordial and productive interdependent relationship that has existed between this administration and the good people of Ekiti State has made it possible for us to make giant strides in the execution of our 8-point Agenda.
Governance
In the area of Governance, our goal is to enhance participatory governance and accountability, thus motivating the citizens with ideas for better productivity, and creating an intellectual bank for policy formulation and implementation. In this bid, we have taken a number of crucial steps and recorded major achievements. We recognise that responsible and responsive governance is key to any developmental agenda. This explains our regular interface with Ekiti people through interactive sessions and the establishment of open channels for regular feedback. I have exemplified our trust in the people as the best judges of our performance by keeping them abreast of government’s activities. For instance, prior to the preparation of each annual budget, we tour every community in the State to ask for their needs. Subsequently, we aggregate these into the State’s budget. The Rt. Honourable Speaker will recall that I have just rounded-off my 2013 community tour with a grand finale at Ado-Ekiti about10 days ago, precisely on Friday, November 29, 2013. The 2014 Budget being presented today is essentially a combination of the furtherance of our 8-Point development agenda and the communal requests made during the tour. This we intend to sustain not only for budgeting purposes but to bi-annually appraise our performance as a government.
Similarly, for the first time in the history of the State, we established a regime of legislations to guarantee a predictable environment of good governance and promote transparency and accountability. We were the first state in the federation to domesticate the Freedom of Information Law, thereby guaranteeing all citizens the right of access to government documents which are not classified. We also enacted into law a Fiscal Responsibility bill, a Public Procurement Legislation, a Public Private Partnership Law and a Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law amongst 62 new legislations passed into law since the inception of this administration. For the first time in the 17 year history of Ekiti state which was founded on Tuesday, October 1, 1996, we have replaced the Edicts and Laws of the old Ondo State with the Laws of Ekiti State.
To further promote transparency and accountability in governance, this administration adopted the medium term expenditure framework [MTEF] as part of the reforms in the annual budgetary process. The MTEF is an annual, rolling three year-expenditure planning. It sets out the medium-term expenditure priorities and hard budget constraints against which sector plans can be developed and refined. MTEF also contains outcome criteria for the purpose of performance monitoring and evaluation. No doubt, since the adoption of MTEF in 2012, our annual budgeting process has been revolutionized with very obvious positive outcomes. The MTEF 2014 – 2016 which this honourable House graciously approved about one and half months ago forms the basis of the 2014 Budget estimates I am presenting here today. We have also reformed our budgetary process by migrating to an e-budgeting platform for the first time since the creation of the State.
In line with the core tenets of good governance, we also adopted a merit-based system of appointments and promotions in the Service. It is no longer news that the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General and other senior civil servants, were all selected through an open, transparent and competitive process. In an environment which had been dominated by patrimonialism, prebendalism and clientelism, this was a transformative step and it has led to the rejuvenation of professionalism in the civil service, such that we now have civil servants who are capable of driving people-focused policies and programmes of the government efficiently and effectively with little or no supervision. This attests to our vision of building strong institutions that can sustain the reforms we are carrying out over the long term.
We also instituted a social security benefit scheme – the first of its kind in any state in Nigeria. Although it is gratifying to note that at least three other states have followed suit, namely – Anambra, Bayelsa and Osun states. This is backed up by law so as to ensure continuity. It is therefore a scheme of the Government of Ekiti State and not merely the policy of my Administration. Based on this scheme, we give monthly stipends to indigent citizens over the age of 65 years. We currently cater for over 20,000 senior citizens in the State irrespective of political or religious affiliation. The program is currently undergoing a review to improve its processes. This is in addition to our Free and Compulsory Education programme up to senior secondary schools for all students in the state and our free health programme which focuses on the vulnerable segments of our population – children, the elderly, pregnant women and the physically challenged. Employment generation has been a priority in order to empower our people and make poverty history in our society. Available statistics from the State Bureau of Statistics [SBS] reveal that we have generated jobs of different categories to the tune of 3,327 in 2011 and progressively increased the figure to 10,465 and 30,187 in 2012 and 2013 respectively. We already have a plan not only to sustain the tempo, but increase the level substantially in 2014.
Infrastructure
In terms of Infrastructural Development, our goal is to establish optimum communities that will improve the lives of citizens and attract investment. Our target is to ensure that every part of the state is accessible by motorable roads by the end of our first term in October 2014. In fulfillment of our promise to connect all parts of Ekiti State by motorable roads, we embarked on massive road construction projects across the state. A total of 736.715km has been constructed since the inception of this administration. We are also making water dams in the state functional so as to increase water supply and coverage by eighty per cent [80%], while using the public-private partnership to increase the generation and distribution of electricity. In the last three years, we have focused on massive urban renewal projects. We have embarked on massive rural electrification project in communities that previously had no electricity; we have established a State Emergency Ambulance Service unit which is able to respond to emergencies; we have provided potable water and small water treatment schemes for several communities.
In concrete terms, we have invested over N1.2 billion in water production in the last three years with over 157.3 kilometers of water pipe laid in 2011 alone. Three water Schemes were completed and commissioned in Efon-Alaye, Okemesi and Ido-Ile, while two other Schemes in Ipole-Iloro and Erinjiyan Ekiti are nearing completion. About 4.0 billion cubic meters of water has been produced and distributed through the water schemes to the various communities in the state during the last two years. Electric power is very central to jump-starting the local economy, especially, in the area of agro-processing which is our focus and we are working on the development of independent hydro and solar power generation in the State. In the area of electricity supply, 162 communities were linked to the national grid in 2010, while this increased to 168 and 171 communities in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The figure for 2013 is still being compiled but 28 electric power projects being handled by the state government are now at various stages of completion. As you are aware, the Governors’ House, the State Pavilion and the Civic Centre are nearing completion; upon completion, they will complement our vision of making the State capital a city to behold.
Our urban renewal initiative is also vital as regards the beautification of Ekiti cities. The State’s capital is undergoing a huge transformation in this regard. We have expanded from the capital to the former District headquarters by awarding contracts for township roads in Ijero, Ikere and Ikole. As I speak, massive works on roads construction and rehabilitation are on-going in these three towns. As a follow-up on the successes recorded in the 5 kilometers road project by each of the 16 LGAs, the contracts for the second phase have been awarded. In addition, Government has expended N300 million on 84 community development projects coordinated by the newly created Ministry of Rural Development and Community Empowerment out of which 60 were commissioned during my just concluded village meetings. Approval has also been given for additional N302 million for the second phase of the projects. These projects are in addition to about 324 EKSCDA projects scattered in all nooks and crannies of the state. No doubt, all these projects have moved us nearer to the establishment of optimum communities in all our Local Government Areas. The efforts in all these areas have eased the burden of life and living for millions of the residents of these communities and the State at large.
In the area of housing, the vigorous urban renewal efforts of this administration have led to the improvement of the quality of our environment and added value to our existing housing stock. This has no doubt led to increased economic activities within our towns and cities. To open up the towns and cities for planned expansion, preparation of the ‘Ado Capital Territory Master Plan’ has been commissioned as well as the commissioning of the preparation of the ‘Structural Development Plan’ for all growth points and local government headquarters statewide.
We are also tapping into the opportunities available through the organised private sector which has birthed the Ekiti Homes Agenda with a vision to provide 5,000 housing units before the end of this administration’s first term in office. Already, this initiative’s flagship Eyiyati estate which seats on 34.98 ha, is working towards delivering 1,000 housing units of various specifications while other players in the industry are also working towards various targets of housing units to be delivered under the Ekiti Homes Agenda.
Rt. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, with a vision to transform Ekiti State into the “Bangalore of Africa”, we have embarked on Phase 1 of an ambitious fibre-optic infrastructure deployment initiative in the state capital. The project would cover 8 kilometers from the Government Data centre to Tantalizers, Fajuyi Park, Bank Road, State Secretariat, GRA/Onigari and Christ’s School; all in Ado-Ekiti, and would make premium internet, telephony, cable tv, and a host of other e-education and e-health services available to individuals and organizations in the state. This initiative which is projected to be concluded by the first quarter of 2014 would revolutionalise the way we work, live and play in Ekiti state.
Agricultural Development and Food Security
Agriculture employs about seventy-five percent [75%] of our population. Therefore, agriculture is at the core of our programmes. Nigeria used to be a world leader in cocoa production up to the early 1970s with Ekiti state occupying a prime position in this development. In fact, the economic boom and prosperity experienced in the old western region by the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo was partly based on the economic resources derived from the sale of cocoa and other allied products. Ekitiland in South-western Nigeria was an important part of the cocoa revolution, but sadly ended in the late 1970s. We are now reviving cocoa plantation to make Ekiti a world leader again in this area of production. This will generate employment for tens of thousands of our citizens; particularly, the youth and we are also focusing on cassava, rice and oil-palm. We projected that 20,000 of our youths would have been trained and employed directly and indirectly by the end of our first term in office. We also projected that agriculture will contribute fifty percent [50%] of our internally-generated revenue. To achieve this, we have improved the conditions of farming in the state, thus guaranteeing effective cultivation, harvesting and processing of agro produce. Hence, we have put in place policies and programme to make agriculture a business in the State. The Youth-Commercial Agricultural Development Programme [Y-CAD], launched in April 2012, is to generate 20,000 jobs for the youths. Already, 250 new youth commercial farmers have benefitted and 1,500 related jobs have also been created. About 187,000 seedlings of teak and melina were raised and 688 hectares of cassava cultivated in this year alone through Y-CAD programme. Some 117,000 farmers have been registered to benefit from our ADP programme. Government is targeting additional 3,000 hectares of cultivation aside the 750 hectares of rice and 1,150 hectares cultivated through Y-CAD programme. Also, the state government in conjunction with our Distinguished Senators and the UNDP had started the N600 million irrigation projects in Ero and Itapaji dams which will make available 1,700 hectares of irrigated farmland. We have also invested massively in land preparation and development.
We want agro-business to thrive in our state and change the fortunes of our citizens. Towards this end, 15,000 farmers have been assisted through the supply of agro-chemicals and fertilizers. This has led to the cultivation of several thousands of hectares of land. We have funded overseas training for agro-workers in cocoa rehabilitation in Indonesia and China; we have refurbished the Orin Ekiti cassava processing plant and upgraded the plant output from 10 tons to 60 tons per day under a private-public partnership with Vegefresh Agro-Allied Company. Apart from Vegefresh, other private sector agro businesses operating in Ekiti state are: AGCO with 2,000 hectares of mechanized rice and soybean; DADTCO with high quality cassava flour processing factory; SPECTRA Nig. Ltd. which has taken over the moribund warehouse in Ikere for cocoa, plantain and cassava processing value addition; New Vision Technology; ZAMBEFF; RENL; DATLEX; GIL and Arewa Cottons that have applied for land for massive production of cotton, etc. We have also rehabilitated and constructed many kilometers of farm access roads.
In addition to 600,000 cocoa seedlings cultivated and supplied by end of 2012; 360,000 seedlings are being raised in 2013 while no single oil palm seedling was raised prior 2012, the present Administration has raised and distributed to farmers at highly subsidized rates 25,000 and 209,560 oil palm seedlings in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Land in use for Farm settlement increased from 468 hectares in 2010 to 878 hectares by the end of 2012. While beneficiaries of land loan stood at 298; 201 and 156 people in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively, poultry production rose significantly from 5.9 million in 2011 to 7.4 million birds in 2012. Not that alone, our Government is in collaboration with British America Tobacco Nigerian Foundation and FADAMA III project in the construction of a $1 million cassava cottage industry which has created jobs for about 3,000 women and more than 1,000 youths.
Education and Human Capital Development
In the area of education and human capital development, our target is to put a computer on the desk of every secondary student by 2014, while providing free and compulsory education up to senior secondary school level, including special initiatives for the physically-challenged students. Today, I am proud to say that the free education for primary and secondary schools declared at my inauguration on October 16, 2010 has been firmly rooted. The operation renovate all secondary school [ORASE] project is being applauded by various communities and considered by many as unprecedented and audacious. In all, 836 primary schools were renovated and 183 public secondary schools were covered under ORASE with 559 buildings, either as a block of classrooms or hall/hostel/laboratories renovated and/or rehabilitated with a total sum of N3.2 billion. Besides, we have distributed 33,000 Laptops to students and 18,000 to Teachers through e-School project, as well as, sporting equipment worth millions of naira to Secondary Schools in the State. Additional 25,000 Laptops have been ordered for distribution when supplied. We are equally making similar significant strides in all our tertiary institutions with core concentration on capacity building and infrastructural development. We have also invested a lot of resources on the procurement of instructional materials in all our schools. We are also partnering with the Educational Trust Fund (ETF) in infrastructural development in both secondary and tertiary institutions.
In the same vein, we have invested vast resources in the last two years on knowledge acquisition and skill development to enable our citizens to work effectively in a rapidly changing and complex global environment. Our investments in human capital represent our most critical intervention in the process of state reconstruction in Ekiti State. In this connection, contract for the construction of Samsung Engineering Academy at GTC, Ado-Ekiti has been awarded and work has commenced while I have also approved the establishment of a Life Academy at Ilumooba with N200 million as starting up cost. Other accomplishments include the complete refurbishment of classrooms, procurement and distribution of furniture as well as science equipment to all public secondary schools across the state. We have also sought to improve teacher quality whilst successfully merging the States’ three universities into a better funded single state university. Other initiatives focus on skills based technical and vocational education in the State.
Overall, all the investments have resulted in significant outcomes in the educational and human development index. For instance, 24 new primary schools were established in 2011, while additional 18 new schools were added in 2012 thereby increasing the number from 776 in 2010 to 836 by 2012. It has also positively manifested in the population of primary school pupils and school enrolment level as primary school enrolment jumped from 155,296 in 2010 to 170,768 in 2013 with secondary school enrolment moving in the same direction, making Ekiti State the highest per capita in terms of school enrolment in the country.
As part of our commitment to education, free UTME beneficiaries averaged 2,000 per year in the last three years while bursary and scholarship are being paid as at when due. Between 2011 and 2013, a total sum of N315.7 million has been disbursed as scholarship to 2,329 students while bursary awards of N148.2 million have been paid to 9,918 beneficiaries. Percentage performance in WAEC and NECO has also improved considerably from 24 percent in 2010 to 53 percent in 2013. Many awards have been won by our students, among which are “overall Best Performance State in the Annual National Mathematics and Science Competitions by Science Teachers Association of Nigeria [STAN]; First position in Mathematics for Senior Secondary School category in the National Quiz competition organized by MAN in 2013; First position in ANCOPSS National Stage Quiz/Essay Competition held at Makurdi in February 5, 2013 was won by a student of CAC, Efon; Best Male Student in 2013 WAEC Result was won by a student of Ikere High School, etc. The Work Bank recently announced USD10 million under State Education Programme Investment Project [SEPIP] to support the state in global recognition of our giant strides in Education sector. The level of literacy in the state has also moved up within a space of one year period from 67 percent in 2011 to 72.2 percent in 2012.
Health Care Services
Human development is not sustainable without massive investment in healthcare delivery, which include capacity building, infrastructure, and staff welfare and disease control. One of the major thrusts of the year 2013 budget is the provision of affordable healthcare facilities to the people. Therefore, in the area of Health care services, we have been providing, in the last three years, free medical services for children, pregnant women, the physically-challenged and senior citizens. We have also established health centres in all localities, while increasing immunization coverage. This year, we have embarked on our ‘Operation Renovate’ all secondary hospitals, as I speak, 18 General hospitals are undergoing renovations across the state in Ikole, Ijesa-Isu, Ode, Omuo, Ikere, Ijan, Ise, Emure, Ifaki, Otun, Oye, Ilupeju, Efon-Alaye, Iyin, Aramoko, Okemesi and Ijero Ekiti. We have embarked upon a strategic re-development of health management information systems while embarking upon the rehabilitation of health training institutions. We have greatly improved maternal healthcare, disease control, while also making the regulation of private health institutions more effective. Our commitment to preventive medicine has led to the creation of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency to turn around our moribund primary health facilities and improve access to medical facilities across the state.
Through our investment in medical education, the Ekiti State School of Nursing and Midwifery achieved a 90 percent success rate in the National Nursing Examination. This came about as a result of our massive investment in providing the enabling environment for learning in the institution. We have constructed a new Accident and Emergency wing in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, established and recently commissioned a Cancer Centre fully equipped with the state of earth screening equipment, while also creating a State Health Data Bank. We have renovated and extended the secondary healthcare facilities in the State, and also procured Ambulances for our hospitals. Our health sector indices vis-à-vis the national average bear testimony to the significant steps being taken in the health sector. Ekiti has one of the lowest maternal and child mortality rates in the country, the lowest HIV prevalence and the highest life expectancy in Nigeria.
It may interest Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members that deliveries at Secondary health facilities increased from 2,190 in 2010 to 2,823 in 2012 while Outpatient attendance at secondary health facilities has risen to 85,730 from 62,374 recorded in 2010. Similarly, inpatient attendance moved up from 9,448 to 11,867 during the same period. The number of health care facilities in the state has also risen to 495 from about 350 inherited from the previous Administration while the total number of hospital bed in the state has risen to 3847 from 3448 in 2010. Beneficiaries of free health intervention stood at 363,050 persons with Ilera Laafin accounting for additional 7,850 making a total of 370,900 persons between 2011 and now. More than N150 million has been expended on the health care needs of indigent patients for various operations and provision of artificial limbs and other auxiliary services by this government.
Industrial development
To be able to generate employment, create wealth and empower the citizens, we have been providing the enabling environment for industrial development. To jumpstart this, we have created technology and industrial parks for small and medium scale enterprises, established micro-credit facilities for promising entrepreneurs, while also promoting agro-allied and solid minerals sectors of the local economy. We have also established the Fountain Holdings Limited which manages the investment portfolio of the State and represents the Government in Public-Private Partnerships. The Ekiti State Enterprise Development Agency charged with encouraging, promoting and coordinating investment activities in the State has continued to successfully stimulate economic growth in the State. Three enterprise development centres have been commissioned at Iloro, Aisegba and Ilupeju to train people on entrepreneurial skills. I am happy today to inform you all that, two moribund industries – Ire Bricks Factory [dead in the last 21 years] and Odu’a Enterprise Centre [formerly Odu’a Textiles – equally comatose in the last 23 years] have been resuscitated. The new initiative is expanding the State’s resources, providing numerous job opportunities, encouraging new skills acquisition by workers and ultimately enlarging the middle class in the State.
Apart from the resuscitation of the two moribund factories, there are other public investments under the management of Fountain Holdings Ltd such as Fountain Hotels Ltd., Ilasa Yam Storage Project, Ikogosi Warm & Cold Springs Resort, Fountain Solid Minerals Development Company, Fountain Diary Farms and Ikogosi Water Bottling Company. The number of Small scale industries has increased from 1,066 in 2011 to 2,257 by 2012 and more are still springing up as business environment continue to be more favourable to them. It is also worthy of note that there are 108 standard hotels in the State and more are still being built to boost tourism business. The government identifies knowledge as an economic development tool and has established the Ekiti State Knowledge Zone [EKZ] to drive a knowledge-based economy in Ekiti.
Tourism
Our administration has concluded the first phase of the re-development of the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort as the flagship of the tourism industry in the state. About 116 hectares of land was acquired for the new Resort, with plans for theme parks, high-altitude sports academy, and Resource centre for women, golf course, entertainment centres, and games reserve. We also plan to make Ekiti State a most attractive destination for relaxation and holidays by developing the Efon, Okemesi, Ikogosi and Ipole-Iloro tourism corridor, a heliport, and world class hotel and accommodation facilities. We are grateful to GOD for blessing Ekiti State with Ikogosi spring where both natural warm and cold water flow from the hills to the valley. The hotel part of the Resort is a 150-room branded international three-star hotel. We have spent about N1.5 billion in creating a mini-paradise in the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort to which I encourage you to visit when next you are on vacation. No doubt, it is now a place that the world will come to and enjoy the beauty of nature. It is gratifying to note that through our modest intervention, Ikogosi Warm & Cold Springs Resort has been globally recognized and listed among the top seven natural wonders in Nigeria.
Gender Equality and Empowerment
Our government has deliberately embraced the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] of promoting gender equality and women empowerment. Consequently, our Administration is the first in Nigeria to sign into law the Gender-Based Violence [Prohibition] Bill. We are also the first state to domesticate the National Gender Policy. Various women focused initiatives have played crucial roles in promoting gender equality and women empowerment. We are closely monitoring the progress of our developmental efforts to ensure that they all help in closing the gender gap and empower women by providing access to social, economic and political opportunities. In promoting gender equality and empowering women to maximize their potentials, we reserved not less than one third of all appointments and promotions for women, while mobilizing resources to attend to issues of concern for women from maternal health and child care to employment and freedom from abuse. Similarly, we are providing skills acquisition programme for out-of-school girls, supporting girl-child education and inaugurating the Family Court for the implementation and administration of children and family matters.
To further ensure that we create public awareness on gender related issues, our Administration introduced a number of initiatives targeted at women and children. For instance, the number of Child Right Clubs was increased from 37 in 2010 to 84 by 2012 while the number of functional Women Cooperative Societies more than tripled within one year as it grew from 100 in 2010 to 386 by 2011. Many of our women have also be trained in one trade or the other and back up with financial support to enable them set up their businesses. The Soup Kitchen and Food Bank have continued to provide succor to indigent women in the state and I want to commend the Wife of Governor for her unrelented advocacy in this regard.
Development Partners in Ekiti State
Prior the inauguration of my Administration in October 2010, development partners were leaving the state in droves. For example DFID and PATHs had to move out of Ekiti to Enugu and Kaduna state respectively in 2003 because they could not cope with the style of the succeeding Administration. Not that alone, development partners were skeptical of the commitment of the previous Administration to transparency and accountability which are the basic ingredients of good governance. For example, Ekiti sate could not access the 6th and 7th Country Programme cycle of UNDP for several years due to government inability to launch the Human Development fund that needed mere N400,000.00 for its conduct. Accumulated GCCC of about N1.2 billion for development partners supported programme of World Bank, ADB, EU, UNICEF etc were not paid for years. But today, Mr. Speaker, development partners are falling upon each other to partner with Ekiti state because our Administration is transparent, accountable and ensure value for money through its good governance posture. Evidence abounds everywhere on the presence of development partners including international NGOs in the State. Similarly, the inflow of donor resources have increased tremendously since this Administration took over three years ago. As at today, we have over fifteen donor agencies and international NGOs in Ekiti state including WB, DFID, UNDP, EU, AfDB, IFAD, UN Habitat Kenya, UNICEF, AUC etc. Among Embassies partnering with Ekiti state are Canadian, Chinese, Thailand, USA etc. We have introduced some reforms to further encourage donor agencies in Ekiti; these include quarterly aid coordination meetings, prompt payment of GCCC, in fact, we have committed about N843 million this year alone. In recognition of support for our Youth Volunteer Programme, the state was selected by the World Bank as one of the pilot states for the YESSO Scheme, to this end, the Bank would be supporting the State government with USD18 million for a period of 5 years. They are also supporting our Water sector with the sum of USD50 million.
Linkages Among the 8-point Agenda
Rt. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen, it is pertinent to state that the 8-point Agenda are inter-related which makes it imperative to invest in all aspects of the agenda at the same time. Essentially, we have endeavoured to connect governance with infrastructural development, and establish a correlation between education and human capital development and gender equality and women empowerment and tie all these with the basic needs of a healthy population. The modernization of agriculture has also been connected to the massive push for industrial development. Related to all these is the creation of tourist attractions, not only to provide an economic niche for the state, but also as places of relaxation for a healthier and more enlightened citizenry that has greater opportunities for better income and better living.
May I once again, reiterate my declaration at the inauguration of this Administration on Saturday, October 16, 2010;
“We must be honest and admit that attaining greater heights in Ekiti State will require more than just Government. There is no magic wand about it. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us. Yes, government must lead, but each of us must do our part in rebuilding this beloved state of ours.”
But let me re-state it again that we will not just concentrate on our achievements so far, we will equally dwell on the continuing challenges that we face. The greatest of this remains our commitment to the core values of integrity and honour in the Land of Honour. We will not get tired of drumming this up at every opportunity until we restore the forces of character as the beauty of our land [iwa lewa]. Some of our material challenges will not be easily overcome, but we have what it takes to have the ultimate victory in all fronts.
As we provide quality leadership, I seek the cooperation of all and sundry to join me in the task of rebuilding “Ile iyi, Ile eye”. We are lighting the candle for our people to find the pathway. There are many tasks ahead and we still have a long way to go in Ekiti State. However, I am confident and convinced that we have laid the foundation for the creation of an enduring democratic, prosperous and greater Ekiti State where poverty will become history.
The 2014 Budget
Rt. Honourable Speaker sir, Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, Royal Fathers and Party Leaders; this is the moment we have all been waiting for. As I have noted in the review of the past three annual budgets and the achievement of this Administration since it was inaugurated on October 16, 2010. In spite of the obvious challenges, I am proud to say that with your support and co-operation, we have sailed courageously and remarkably against the storm in the implementation of our budgets. We have been able to deliver visible dividends of democracy and good governance to the masses of Ekiti state. What is instructive from the experience of the past three years is that more resources are needed to deliver on the expectations of our people and these resources will come not as a result of increases in taxes, but by getting more people who are not yet paying taxes and/or paying less than required by existing national tax law to do so by playing their part and contributing to the commonwealth. Recent happenings regarding oil revenue makes it imperative for us to look inwards now more than ever before. Unlike in some other jurisdictions, the problem is now the resource availability and not the absorptive capacity to utilize them effectively and transparently; because we have planned and designed life changing infrastructure like roads, bridges, hospitals, waterworks, waste management, schools, sports centres, social security etc that now require money to finance and maintain.
Although we can and we intend to continue to improve our budget performance in the years ahead, I am happy to say that our aggregate performance over the years has been most impactful on our State and our citizens. Dreams have been fulfilled; jobs created; and hope remains alive as our people and our State march on in the journey of progress and sustained development. I must say that we have enjoyed the full support of this honourable Legislative Chamber without which the journey would have been very tortuous.
Objectives of the 2014 Budget
The 2014 Budget process is designed to achieve the 8-point Agenda of this Administration; hence, it has been very participatory in its development and is therefore realistic and achievable. The Objectives are as follows:
- i. Commitment to aggressive and sustainable internal revenue;
- ii. Concerted effort to complete all critical on-going capital projects that are central to 8–point Agenda;
- iii. Accelerated empowerment of rural community through strengthening the Communities based development initiatives;
- iv. Radical approach to reducing the level of poverty of the citizenry through provision of conducive environment for job and wealth creation, youth and women empowerment;
- v. Improving the effectiveness and functionality of the health sector with a view to coordinate the quality of health care delivery service;
- vi. Improving the quality and functionality of education;
- Improvement in socio-economic infrastructure such as rural/ urban roads, water supply and rural electrification;
- Provision of enabling environment for food security and agro-based industries with immense private sector participation;
- ix. Aggressive pursuit of the agenda of making Ekiti a destination of choice for tourists;
- x. Maintenance of efficient, effective and well motivated Public Service for enhanced productivity; and
- xi. Sustenance of good government through budget discipline, probity and accountability in the utilization of public fund.
Principles of 2014 Budget
(i) Going by the fact that 2011 Budget was “Budget of Renewal” 2012 was “Budget of Delivery” and 2013 was “Budget of Empowerment and Consolidation”, the 2014 Budget would of “Stability and Growth”.
(ii) For further consolidation, Government will apply breaks on fiscal expansion, reduce budget deficit and largely use the year 2014 for the completion and commissioning of on-going projects;
(iii) For fiscal security and sustainability, intensive focus on IGR is vital. Appropriate criteria would be adopted to evaluate and prioritize Capital projects that are revenue generating in nature;
(iv) Government will continue the use of public-private partnership [PPP] option in ventures that are better handed by the private sector;
(v) The linkage between Budget and MTEF will be strengthened. To this end, relevant codes have been generated in the budget platform and MDAs have aligned their projects with the relevant codes; and
(vi) The prioritization of Capital projects into 3 tiers will be strengthened. To this end Baseline projects are:
- Those near completion and ready for commissioning in 2014; and
- Conditional grant projects and critical projects with guaranteed sources of funding.
Highlights of 2014 Budget
In order to keep the economy growing and sustain the tempo of development, we have proposed a budget of N103.882 billion for the 2014 financial year. The proposed budget exceeds Budget 2013 by N1.379 billion. Our Capital to Recurrent ratio will be 52:48 for FY2014 as against 32:68 achieved in the outgoing year.
2014 Revenue Projections
6.49Ecological Fund525,000,000.000.510Others: Sundry Incomes [SURE–P]3,849,931,152.003.711Others:Sundry Incomes:
FAAC Augmentation2,231,423,832.002.112Others: Transfer from Prior Fiscal Year7,569,652,031.007.3TOTAL 103,882,393,433.00 100
S/No. | Revenue Source | Amount (N) | Percentage (%) |
1 | Statutory Allocation | 32,387,403,753.00 | 31.2 |
2 | VAT | 7,237,006,026.00 | 7 |
3 | Excess Crude Proceed + Budget Differential | 4,811,940,864.00 | 4.6 |
4 | IGR including Signage Agency | 20,130,748,909.00 | 19.4 |
5 | External Grants [Draw Down] | 11,064,286,867.00 | 10.7 |
6 | MDGs Conditional Grants Scheme | 1,075,000,000.00 | 1 |
7 | Loan – Internal Loan / Bond | 6,300,000,000.00 | 6.1 |
8 | Grant from FGN [Reimbursement on Federal Roads] | 6,700,000,000.00 | 6.4 |
9 | Ecological Fund | 525,000,000.00 | 0.5 |
10 | Others: Sundry Incomes [SURE–P] | 3,849,931,152.00 | 3.7 |
11 | Others: Sundry Incomes: FAAC Augmentation | 2,231,423,832.00 | 2.1 |
12 | Others: Transfer from Fiscal Year | 7,569,652,031.00 | 7.3 |
| TOTAL | 103,882,393,433.00 | 100 |
Recurrent Expenditure
A total sum of N50,106,166,739.81 (Fifty Billion, One Hundred and Six Million, One Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Nine naira and Eighty One Kobo) has been earmarked for the recurrent expenditure of government in the 2014 fiscal year. This represents approximately 48.2 percent of the total budget. With this, Government expects to meet the following obligations:
S/No. | Expenditure | Amount (N) | Percentage (%) |
1 | Personnel Cost | 8,207,899,323.15 | 7.9 |
2 | Other Charges | 5,796,146,510.43 | 5.60 |
3 | Grants to Parastatals/Tertiary Institutions | 19,314,868,207.55 | 18.60 |
4 | Transfer to Other Funds | 7,725,661,444.27 | 7.40 |
5 | Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges | 9,061,591,254.41 | 8.70 |
| Total Recurrent Expenditure | 50,106,166,739.81 | 48.2 |
Government places high priority on the welfare of its labour force and it shall continue to support our workers in all ramifications to enable them contribute maximally to the growth and development of our dear State. This is the reason behind the full implementation of the new minimum wage of N19,300.00 (Nineteen Thousand, Three Hundred Naira) even though the national minimum wage is N18,000.00 (Eighteen Thousand Naira). This singular effort of the government to make its workers happy and motivated for high productivity has its effect on the finances of the State Government. In actual fact, since the implementation of the new salary structure, the wage bill for the core Civil Service of the State has recorded a progressive increase from N4.9 billion in 2011 to N7.3 billion in 2012 or 7.9 percent of the total budget. In the year 2013, a sum of N8.3 billion or 8.9 percent was earmarked in the approved budget; by simple calculation, what the government is paying in 2013 is double its figure in 2011 when the new minimum wage was yet to be implemented. In this connection, N8,207,899,325.15 (Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Five Naira and Fifteen Kobo) or 8.0 percent of the budget is being proposed for personnel cost in 2014 budget estimate.
While expressing deep appreciation to labour and the entire workforce of Ekiti State for their understanding and cooperation with the government, it is necessary for me to state here that all of us have roles to play in making Ekiti become the land of our dream. This is why all of us should be prepared to be involved not only in enjoying the public privileges but also the obligations to the State.
Rt. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as I noted in my address to the people of Ekiti State during the second anniversary of this Administration, all of us are living witnesses to the parlous state of the economy prior my assumption of office in October 2010. I informed the good people of Ekiti then that ‘over N40 billion’ was hanging precariously on the State along with many uncompleted and abandoned projects in all sectors. In spite of this, we owed it a duty to deliver on our campaign promises to the generality of our people, even though our IGR accounted for far lesser than our needs. In this circumstance, the workers have to show enough understanding on the need to generate more funds to service government activities including the regular payment of salaries as well as other welfare packages. For instance, there have been some misgivings on the implementation of the new tax regime which is a legitimate tax code adopted by the Federal Internal Revenue Service. I like to state that this is a national issue and not peculiar to Ekiti State.
Again the issue of trust has come to play in understanding government intentions. I like to reiterate that this government is people’s government and would do everything to justify the people’s confidence at all times. We are determined to consolidate on our efforts at reclaiming the people’s trust as an art of governance. We will not falter in this determination. This Administration shall continue to support any scheme that would improve the welfare of the entire workforce. This we have demonstrated in the re- introduction of the cancelled loan schemes. Training and re-training of the workforce shall also be accorded a high priority. The welfare of our senior citizens i.e. retired workers shall also continue to receive adequate attention of this government. To this end, a sum of N4,300,000,000.00 (Four Billion, Three Hundred Million Naira) has been set aside in the 2014 budget for the payment of pensions and gratuities.
Highlights of Some Key Recurrent Expenditure:
(a) Subventions:
S/No. | Receivers | Subvention Amount (N) |
1 | The Judiciary | 1,074,363,162.98 |
2 | College of Education | 1,973,320,095.27 |
3 | Ekiti State University, Ado | 3,075,090,481.80 |
4 | Teaching Service Commission | 8,298,901,904.59 |
5 | BSES | 322,308,948,.89 |
6 | SUBEB | 219,257,788.36 |
7 | Agric. Development Project | 164,443,341.27 |
8 | Water Corporation | 336,122,189.56 |
9 | University Teaching Hospital | 2,382,706,055.74 |
10 | Internal Revenue Service | 500,000,000.00 |
(b) Other recurrent expenses
S/No. | Receivers | Subvention Amount (N) |
1 | Scholarship Scheme | N118,831,368.39 |
2 | Payment of NECO/WAEC | N148,000,000.00 |
3 | Grants to Secondary School Students for computer | 1,200,000,000.00 |
Capital Expenditure
The sustained fight against poverty occupies a prime place in this Government in 2014 fiscal year. We have no alternative but to make the scourge history in Ekiti State. In doing this, our programmes shall be focused on making the rural dwellers economically less dependent through active empowerment programmes. In addition, there will be adequate provision of water, rural electrification and rural roads. We have also made provisions for N374,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Seventy Four Million Naira) in the 2014 proposed budget as our counterpart contributions for the construction of 5km road per Local Government. Our youths and women folk shall also be empowered. The Free Education and Health programmes shall be sustained and expanded. Consequently, we are proposing a total sum of N52,776,226,693.19 (Fifty Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Six Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Three Naira, Nineteen Kobo) for capital projects in the 2014 fiscal year. This amount represents 51.8 percent of the total budget. The fund is distributed across sectors as follows:
(A) Economic Sector
S/No. | Sub-Sector | Amount (N) |
1 | Agriculture, Rural Development & Community Empowerment | 5,017,600,000.00 |
2 | Industrial Development | 3,009,000,000.00 |
3 | Tourism | 503,344,523.71 |
4 | Infrastructure | 17,220,000,000.00 |
| Sub-Total of Economic Sector | 25,749,944,523.71 |
* Percentage of total budget – 24.80%
(B) Social Service Sector
S/No. | Sub-Sector | Amount (N) |
1 | Education | 2,464,777,561.52 |
2 | Health Care | 3,516,500,000.00 |
3 | Women Development, Youth Development | 2,173,078,000.00 |
| Sub-Total of Social Service Sector | 8,154,355,561.52 |
* Percentage of total budget – 7.80%
(C) Environmental Sector
S/No. | Sub-Sector | Amount (N) |
1 | Environmental Development | 2,127,245,330.80 |
2 | Lands/Urban/Physical Planning | 1,135,000,000.00 |
| Sub-Total of Environmental | 3,262,245,330.80 |
* Percentage of total budget – 3.1%
(D) Administrative Sector N9, 825,857,635.20
* Percentage of total budget – 9.5%
(E) TOF Capital N6, 783,823,641.96
* Percentage of total budget – 6.5%
Grand Total N53,776,226,693.19
* Percentage of total budget – 51.8%
Economic Sector
We have Agriculture, Rural Development, Industrial Development, Tourism and provision of various infrastructures such as road construction/rehabilitation, Housing development, Electricity, provision of potable water. As a result of its importance to the people, a sum ofN25,749,944,523.71 or 24.80% of the total capital budget has been earmarked for this sector in the next fiscal year. Below is the highlight of the fund distribution to Sub- sectors of the Economic Sector:
Ministry of Agriculture and its Agencies
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Main Ministry of Agriculture | 2,486,000,000.00 |
2 | Agriculture Development Project (ADP) | 100,000,000.00 |
3 | Farm Settlement Scheme | 54,000,000.00 |
4 | Ekiti State Marketing Development Board | 40,000,000.00 |
5 | Ministry of Rural Development and Community Empowerment | 1,158,944,000.00 |
6 | Others | 1,178,656,000.00 |
Industrial Development:
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Ministry of Trade, Investment & Innovation | 1,750,000,000.00 |
2 | Ekiti State Enterprises Development Agency | 200,000,000.00 |
3 | Multipurpose Credit Agency | 30,000,000.00 |
4 | Job Creation & Employment Agency | 100,000,000.00 |
5 | Ministry of Labour, Productivity & Human Capital Dev. | 59,000,000.00 |
6 | Others | 870,000,000.00 |
Infrastructural Development
This sector is of priority to this Administration. The balance of the proceeds from the Bond secured by the State shall be expended on Infrastructure. To this end, a sum of N17,220,000,000.00(Seventeen Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) of the entire budget has been set aside for recurrent and several other capital projects under Infrastructure. Few of the projects are listed below.
| S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Road Projects | 2,457,449.982.91 |
2 | Water Corporation | 1,780,000,000.00 |
Among the roads to be constructed/rehabilitated in 2014 in addition to the on-going road projects are:
- i. Ipole-Iloro – Ogotun;
- ii. Ido-ile – Okemesi Junction;
- Aramoko – Erinjiyan – Ikogosi;
- Ayegunle – Ijurin – Iloro;
- v. Ido – Ipere – Isan – Iludun;
- Ilogbo – Ido.
Arising from demands for potable water by many communities during my just concluded Village Square meetings, a bulk sum of N4.136 billion has been earmarked to boost water supply in the state while another N0.5 billion has been set aside to meet other requests arising from my village square meetings. The World Bank has also approved USD50 million to support water and sanitation in the State during FY 2014. I am confident that our communities would experience unprecedented transformation when all these projects are actualized.
Social Service Sector
Provision of social services for the generality of our people in Ekiti State is critical to this government. Education and Health care services which are cardinal programmes of our great Party – All Progressive Congress [APC] would be adequately funded. A total sum of N2,464,777,561.52 (Two Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty One Naira, Fifty Two Kobo) is allocated to the Education sub-sector. In this amount, a sum ofN3,516,500,000.00 (Three Billion, Five Hundred and Sixteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) is set aside for Health programmes. In view of our commitment to gender equality and youth development, this Administration shall give the required logistics and support to strengthening existing gender based programmes in the State. Our youths are the building blocks of our future. We plan to attract major youth empowerment programs to Ekiti State in 2014 and also develop avenues to productively engage our youth through competitive activities such as debates, quiz, sports competition etc.
Education Sub-Sector:
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Main Ministry of Education | 400,000,000.00 |
2 | SUBEB | 1,220,777,561.52 |
3 | Board for Technical & Vocational Education | 50,000,000.00 |
4 | Ekiti State University /College of Medicine | 370,000,000.00 |
5 | College of Education | 195,000,000.00 |
Health Sub Sector
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Main Ministry of Health | 2,449,000,000.00 |
2 | College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti | 266,500,000.00 |
3 | University Teaching Hospital | 507,000,000.00 |
4 | Primary Health Care Development Agency | 100,000,000.00 |
5 | Central Medical Store | 44,000,000.00 |
6 | Hospitals’ Management Board | 100,000,000.00 |
7 | State Action Committee on Aids | 50,000,000.00 |
Information Services:
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Ministry of information | 238,000,000.00 |
2 | Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State | 337,078,000.00 |
3 | Government Printing Press | 5,000,000.00 |
Sports Development:
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Ministry of Youth and Sports | 1,015,000,000.00 |
2 | Construction of State Pavilion and Parade Ground | 750,000,000.00 |
3 | Establishment of Sports Academy | 50,000,000.00 |
4 | Provision of sport equipment | 2,000,000.00 |
Women Development
S/No. | Distribution | Amount (N) |
1 | Women Empowerment Programmes | 15,000,000.00 |
2 | Construction & equipping of women Development Centre at Ado Ekiti | 20,000,000.00 |
3 | Implementation of Multiple Birth Trust Fund | 28,000,000.00 |
Environmental Sector
This Administration shall maintain a cleaner environment across the state. Considerable attention will be given to Ado Ekiti, the State capital to make it a model and a reference point among other States of the Federation. The Urban Renewal programmes shall be extended to other Local Government Headquarters. A total sum of N3,262,245,330.80 is allocated for capital expenditure in the sector in year 2014. The fund is allocated to the under listed sub-sectors:
Environmental Development
Construction of Walk-way & other beautification = N100,000,000.00
Administrative Sector
Rt. Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the role of General Administration as the central coordinator of all government activities in the State is quite engaging. It is therefore very important to accord this sector the desired attention. The total allocation for the Administrative Sector is N9,825,857,635.20 or 9.50 percent of the total capital budget.
Internal Security
This Administration is happy with the relative peace, law and order that prevailed in the State in the out-going year. This was made possible by the effort and determination of the law enforcement agencies that were always on the alert. Our Administration will within its limited resources, provide necessary logistics for our law-enforcement agencies to enable them perform optimally. Our Royal Fathers were also supportive as they ensured that peace reigned supreme in their respective domains. We shall not relent on this effort in the coming year. Further steps will be taken in the coming year to make the State crime free. I enjoin the peace loving people of Ekiti State to volunteer useful information to the law enforcement agencies so as to guarantee the security of lives, investment and property.
The Legislature
I am happy to note that the venue of this budget presentation is, so far, the most elegant Legislative House in the country. Among others, it is a beauty to behold. This has however given us an added responsibility to maintain the structure. We will not shirk in this responsibility. We have made adequate provision in the 2014 Budget for proper maintenance of the edifice and other legislative activities.
Once again, I like to commend the Honourable members for the achievements of the House so far. This has made you to be celebrated across the country, I joyfully identify with the good reputation you have cut for yourselves within the short period of your inauguration. I urge you to sustain the tempo in the coming year. In the interest of our people, I request for your continued cooperation and constructive appraisal of our policies and programmes. Since it is for common good, I promise to take good notice of this with every sense of responsibility and candour. This Administration shall continue to support the House most especially in the area of funding and any other assistance it may require from the Executive within the limited resources available to the government.
The Judiciary
The importance of the Judiciary as the third arm of Government cannot be over-emphasized. As the last hope of the common man, we will continue to respond to the needs of this very important arm of government for it to achieve its statutory responsibilities. The 2014 Budget has made provision for the construction of new office buildings to ameliorate the hardship of shortage of accommodation in the Judiciary. All other needs such as office furniture and equipment, utility vehicles have also been addressed in the 2014 proposed budget. It is my expectation that the third arm of Government would sustain the tempo of quick dispensation of justice for the sake of those awaiting trial.
Conclusion
In keeping faith with our philosophy of what is good can become best, we shall continue to reform the budgeting process to attain what works, i.e. integration of international best practices into home-grown initiatives. I, today, reaffirm, along with other members of my Administration to stand for justice and equity; to redouble efforts at building a State that would be a pride to all. My sacred social contract with the people of Ekiti State will continue to be renewed to meet the expectations of the common man. As usual, the Hon. Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning & Service Delivery will provide detailed analysis of the budget at a later date. It is therefore my great pleasure to present this Budget of Stability and Growth to the Ekiti State House of Assembly to the glory of God and the benefit of the good people of Ekiti State.
Thank you all.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year in advance.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Governor
Ekiti State, Nigeria
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
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