Amosun presents N187.9bn first Budget

By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—GOVERNOR Ibikunle  Amosun of Ogun State  has presented  a N187.9 billion  budget proposal for next year to the state House of Assembly for approval. The governor pledged to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state  from N10 billion to N63 billion per annum by next year.

Amosun who presented the proposed 2012 budget,   tagged “Budget  to  Rebuild” to  the House yesterday,  said he spent N124.61 billion as capital  expenditure since assuming office six months ago .

The proposal is N65 billion larger than the 2011 N124.61 billion budgeted by the immediate past government of the PDP.

The governor said he deliberately jerked-up next year’s budget by 63 billion in anticipation of many capital projects and other activities his government planned to embark upon to make life meaningful for the people of the state.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, promised on behalf of House to expedite the passage of the budget, which according to him would have positive impacts on the lives of the people.

Adekunbi, who commended Amosun for his efforts in giving the Assembly a face-lift, urged him to do more to better the lot of the people through his laudable programmes.

Giving detail of the budget proposal, Amosun said N41.48 billion (22 p er cent) had been earmarked for Education sector, while Rural and Infrastructural Development would take N33 billion, representing 18 per cent.

Housing and Urban Renewal, would take N22 billion (12 per cent) while Healthcare delivery and  Agriculture and industrialisation would gulp N15 billion and N8billion representing 8 and 5 per cent respectively.

He said the budget proposal would be financed through IGR of N63.601 billion and Federation Account of N70.800 billion which is 47 and 53 per cent respectively.

Amosun told the gathering which included some former governors of the state -Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Navy Captain Oladeinde Joseph (rtd), Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola (rtd), former deputy governor, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye as well as the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2011 election, Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd), that his government planned to put in place an economic plan that would stop the  state from continuing to depend on allocation from the Federation Account.

He said he had put in motion a process of re-engineering the finances and the accounting process in the state to eliminate wastages and make the state financially self-dependent.

The governor said he decided to give premium to the education sector because of the belief that education was the future of the state, stressing that with a sound education, the future of the state was

secured.

He disclosed that his administration intended to “ensure the sustenance of the provision of the free and qualitative education at primary and secondary school levels, construct additional buildings in public educational institutions, embark on massive renovation/maintenance of dilapidated structure in our school and supply furniture to enhance student enrolment, retention and performance.”

Senator Amosun  revealed plans by the government to establish “five model secondary schools with hostel facilities in the three senatorial districts of the state,” and to procure instructional material and textbooks for all students ” in public schools.

On road, he disclosed that the “sum of N24.56 billion representing 13.07% of the total budget for the year, has been earmarked for rural and infrastructural development in our dear State.

”It is hoped that this will transform the face of our dilapidated infrastructure,’ adding that a total of seventeen roads would be rehabilitated during the year.