Adejoke Adeleye/ Abeokuta
Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday presented a budget proposal of N339billion for the 2021 fiscal year to the Ogun State House of Assembly for approval.
The budget which is the second full year proposal to be presented by the governor, is N110.974bn lower than his 2020 proposal of N449.974 billion.
The Governor said the 2021 Appropriation Bill is tagged “Budget of Recovery and Sustainability”, as it highlights key sectors and budgetary allocations for rapid development of the State.
“The investment focus of this Government is to gradually reduce the identified infrastructure gap as well as provide fiscal stimulus to lift demand and help the state in its economic recovery process”, he said.
The Governor noted that in achieving this, the State Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) approach based on a modified zero-based budgeting framework was emplaced to provide “a profiled budget stating the various expenditure headings and cost allocated over the three years”
Gov Abiodun stressed that the Budget is meant to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the #EndSARS protests, the general feeling of disenchantment in the polity, the socio-economic yearnings of Ogun State people for good governance, as well as the stringent calls in all societal spheres for a more representative democracy that speaks to the issues of economic growth, consistent progress and equitable quality of life.
The budget comprises recurrent expenditure of N162bn (48 per cent of the total budget) and a Capital expenditure of N177 billion (52 per cent) “as dictated by best practices to drive our developmental objectives.”
Highlights of the budget include: Infrastructure, N61B; Social welfare and well being:N93B (includes Health, Housing, Environment, Physical Planning, Women Affairs, etc); Education, N58B; Youth empowerment, N6B; Agriculture, N15B and Enablers N106B
Abiodun said the State will also set aside N12 billion for Stabilisation Fund and N10billion for Public Debt Charges.
The governor said the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service, OGIRS, will generate an estimated N75 billion and other IGR from Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) would generate an estimated N44billion totaling N119billion.
He added that Statutory allocation will provide estimates of N59 billion while capital receipt is estimated at N142 billion (i.e. Internal and External loans including Grants and Aid).
“Since oil revenue has continued to reduce thus affecting statutory allocation, the 2021 internally generated revenue of the state projected atN119billion will complement the projected statutory allocation of the proposed budget”, he said, noting that the 2021 Appropriation Bill has been modified to include budgeted revenues, no matter how small, for each MDA, to focus on internal revenue generation.
Gov Abiodun reeled out his record of achievement as encapsulated in the ISEYA acronym suggesting a great leap in Infrastructural development (roads, portable water and housing): social welfare and wellbeing (healthcare, women empowerment and grassroots development); education; youth empowerment and agriculture and food security.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, stated that the presentation being a constitutional requirement for all elected governors was in consonance with provisions of Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).