EKITI: Govt earmarks N1.4b for Amotekun, N550m for drones’ procurement in 2021 budget

THE state government has accorded priority to tackling the growing insecurity, particularly kidnapping, in the state in 2021.

The breakdown of the state’s 2021, which was made available to journalists on Sunday, reflected how the government would address its priority and other interests.

From the breakdown, the government voted N1.4billion for the State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps in its 2021 budget.

The Commissioner for Budget, Femi Ajayi made this known at a press conference in Ado Ekiti where he gave the detailed analysis of the N109.666 budget passed by the state legislative and recently assented to by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi had on Dec.23, 2020, assented to the budgetary provision, christened, “Budget of Recovery and Economic Restoration”.

The budget earmarked N58.4 billion for recurrent and N51.6 billion for capital expenditures.

Ajayi said that the priority to security was in a bid to further attract investment and ensure the safety of all investors and residents.

” Following the incessant security challenges which include kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes, robberies in the country, to ensure the security of lives and properties, Governor Kayode Fayemi inaugurated the Ekiti State Security Trust Fund coined ‘Amotekun’ in collaboration with the other South-Western States on 19th October 2020.

“A sum of N1.44 billion has been earmarked as capital allocation for Amotekun Corps. For the procurement of Drones for surveillance, a sum of N550 million has been earmarked while a total of N320 million will be spent on safety city project and the Ekiti State Security Trust Fund will gulp a sum of N55 million,” the commissioner said.

He said that government had also earmarked a total of N8 billion to critical areas of social services, to include the education sector, health, gender empowerment, social security and other pivotal sub-sectors critical to the growth of the state’s economy.

To fund the budget, Ajayi said that a total of N29.6 billion was expected from the federation account, N8.4 billion raised from Internally Generated revenue including taxes and other fees while N4.5 billion would be generated from tertiary institutions, including other sundry sources.

The Commissioner stated that the budget was tailored towards resetting the economy to rise to Covid-19 challenges and open a new vista in the fight against poverty, engendering of industrial growth and agribusiness.

He said a sum of N2.4 billion had been budgeted to start off the recently approved Bamidele Olumilua University of Education Science and Technology while a total of N677million was earmarked for the new school of Commercial Agriculture, Isan Ekiti.

Ajayi said that in consideration for human capital development and equality of all genders, the state proposed to hold a Gender Summit and an N35 million had been budgeted for the project.

The commissioner also said that N20 million would be spent on construction of a Family Court to attend to family issues,” timeously”.

On urban renewal development, Ajayi said a sum of N250 million was to be expended on the Master Plan of Ado Ekiti and Satellite Towns while a sum of N4.5 million would be spent on an ecological programme called NEWMAP.

On sports, he said about N116 million was voted for youth and sports development, out of which N30 million has been set aside for the upgrade of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

Also, N15.2 million would be used for the construction of a multipurpose sports hall in Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, while the government also allocated N79.2 million and another N15million to the Ekiti United Football Club and Ekiti Queens FC respectively.

He assured the residents of the state of the full implementation of the 2021 budget.

“This is in fulfilment of the pact signed with the good people of the State, this can only be feasible when we as good citizens perform our civic responsibilities in ensuring payment of taxes and other levies to improve the revenue accruable to the Government”, he said.