By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Thursday presented a total Budget proposal of N472,250,694,447.58bn consisting of N270.41bn for capital projects, taking the lion share of the budget, while N201.84bn will go for recurrent expenditure for 2023 fiscal year.
Governor Abiodun who reads the 2023 Appropriation Bill christened ‘budget of continued development and prosperity,’ before the state legislators led by Rt Hon. Speaker Kunle Oluomo at the Assembly chamber, said cited N79.47B as personnel cost while social contribution and social benefits will gulp N21.12bn.
“A total expenditure of N472.25billion is proposed for the State Government in 2023. The proposed expenditure comprises of N201.84 billionas recurrent and N270.41 billionas Capital with the
highlights below: Personnel Costs of N79.47bn; Social Contribution and Social BenefitsN21.12bn; Public Debt Charge of N39.90bn; Overhead Cost of N61.35bn; Capital Expenditure of N270.41bn,” Abiodun said.
Abiodun explained that the State in the next financial year would accord priority attention to the completion of all ongoing projects and those with revenue potentials including the projects that could enhance employment generation. He noted that others to be prioritized are projects consistent with priorities articulated in the State Economic Development Plan and Strategy 2021-2025 and others that align with the seven thematic areas contained in the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2021-2025.
According to him, the thematic areas were: economic growth and development, infrastructure, public administration (governance, security, and international relations), human capital development, social development, regional development, as well as plan implementation, communication, financing, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Pointing out that the total State’s funding was estimated at N472.25 billion, the Governor added that a total of 210.25bn, comprising of N90.00billion was expected to be generated by the State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) in addition to N120.25b expected from other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which would enable the State achieve an IGR to GDP ratio of 3.7%.
He further affirmed that the State would sustain the existing Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) to drive the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), saying N92bn was being expected as statutory allocation (FAAC and VAT) from the Federal Government, with capital receipts put at N128.37b comprising of internal and external loans as well as grants and aids.
Highlighting the sectorial allocations in line with the vision of his administration, the Governor said that N66.79bn was being allocated for education sector, representing 14%, while N51.48bn would cater for the health sector representing 11%, with the housing and community development sector sharing N29.10bn amounting to 6%, just as N16.48bn was voted for agriculture and industry which represents 3 % of the total budget.
He added that infrastructure would gulp N129.371bn representing 27% of the total budget, with recreation, culture and religion to share N6.90bn, just as N23.38bn would be spent on social protection.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, said that the last three years of the present administration in the State had witnessed unprecedented development in all areas of human endeavour, which was a testimony of Governor Abiodun’s lofty dream for the State.
According to Oluomo, “You have succeeded in ensuring that Ogun State maintains its pride as the Educational capital and Industrial hub among the comity of States in the Country. Your Excellency, without mincing words, the good people of Ogun State, the entire Citizenry of Nigeria, and by extension the whole world are all living witnesses to Your Excellency’s ongoing monumental achievements and how you have been turning your dream for a prosperous Ogun State into reality with legacy projects such as Construction of Rural, Urban, Intra-city and Inter-state roads across the nooks and crannies of the State, the Agro Cargo Airport, the Remo Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, the about to be resuscitated Kajola Free Export Processing Zone, to mention just a few.
Your Excellency Sir, you are indeed worthy of the National Honour of the Best Governor in Industrial Revolution in Nigeria bestowed on you by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”
The Speaker noted that the Ninth Assembly had been maintaining cordial and peaceful relationship with the Executive Arm of Government, which had reflected in the level of achievements recorded by the present administration since its inception in 2019, commending the State Governor for approving the release of fund for this year Constituency Projects in the State.
He added that after the tenders board had completed the necessary processes with the State Bureau of Public Procurement, the teeming constituents would start witnessing the commencement of the projects across the State.
Responding shortly after the Governor’s presentation, Speaker Oluomo stated that the State deserved nothing less than a vibrant and articulate Legislature, an innovative leadership as the head of the Executive arm and a fearless Judiciary as being witnessed in the Gateway State through the various completed and ongoing projects, assuring that the Legislative arm would redouble its efforts towards retaining its pride of place among the comity of States in the Federation.
He promised that the State lawmakers would ensure the timely passage of the budget and ensure the susteinance the passage of laws and resolutions that would facilitate the provision of the needed facilities and other necessities of life towards adding values to the quality of lives of all the people.
The budget presentation had in attendance the former Military Administrators- Col. Daniel Akintonde, Oladehinde Joseph and Navy Captain Rasheed Raji, the former Deputy Governor, Yetunde Onanuga and Salimat Badru, former Speakers Suraju Adekunbi and Tunji Egbetokun, State Head of Service, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro, the Chairman, Governor Advisory Council, Chief Olu Ogunboyejo, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers including the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the representatives of Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, and that of Olu and Paramount Ruler of Yewa land, the body of Permanent Secretaries, captains of industry and party stalwarts amongst others.
