Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill of N109 billion into law with a pledge to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects and rejuvenation of the state economy.
The bill was presented to the Governor for assent by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti in the presence of the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Femi Ajayi, and members of the executive and legislative arms.
While signing the bill in Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Fayemi said the 2021 budget estimates, tagged “Budget of Recovery and Economic Restoration” was meant to usher the state into the second half of the administration with the objectives of completing ongoing projects and commencing new ones that are very critical to the economic development of the state.
He explained that the assent to the budget signified the readiness of the government to effectively implement the budget and deliver on its promises to the people adding that the budget would also increase the state’s ability to respond to economic challenges and achieve fiscal sustainability.
The Governor assured the people that all the lined up projects and programmes would immediately begin to receive adequate attention for the benefit of the people.
Governor Fayemi said: “The 2021 budget estimates is N109,666,376,722.61, out of which 53 percent is appropriated for recurrent expenditure and 47 percent for capital expenditure. The breakdown of the 2021 budget of recovery and economic restoration would be presented to the public by the Hon. Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning in the coming days.”
Dr. Fayemi expressed his appreciation to the Ekiti people for their love, prayers, and support that had kept the government going against all odds. “We are moving on, still impacting lives and building legacies”.He also thanked members of the House of Assembly for passing the 2021 appropriation bill expeditiously despite the challenges of the moment, adding that they did not only pass the bill on time but was thorough and painstaking in ensuring the bill passed through the necessary legislative process and scrutiny.
“You would recall that I presented the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly on the 27th October, 2020 to give the honourable members ample time to scrutinized the documents and engage all relevant stakeholders. This makes our dear state about the first in the country to present the Appropriation bill to the Assembly in 2020.
“I’m indeed very glad to remark that the House of Assembly worked diligently in the overall best interest of the good people of Ekiti state to ensure conscientious and careful legislative review and ultimate passage of the appropriation bill on time without compromising due process and quality review.
“All the various committees of the House worked assiduously with the Finance and Appropriation Committee to ensure a seamless legislative review. This rare feat is obviously made possible through the selflessness, dedication, determination, and commitment of distinguished honourable members of the House of Assembly.
“I enjoined you to sustain this harmonious relationship so as to jointly take Ekiti State to an enviable place of pride among the committee of states. Once again, I commend the renewed partnership, the mutual understanding as to the effective collaboration between the executive and the legislature, I expect that going forward, this will not only continue to be the standard, it will be the beacon that others will follow.
The Governor, who also commended the Ministry of Budget for their dedication, hard work, and commitment in the preparation of the 2021 draft estimates recalled that Ekiti State budget migrated to the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) in the 2020 fiscal year leading to a new milestone by making the 2021 draft estimates comply with the reviewed national chart of an account which is a requirement for the state’s fiscal transparency and sustainability programme for the result.
Earlier, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye prayed for a robust economy that will enable the government to drive the five pillars of the administration to the desired end.
The Speaker noted that despite the global meltdown occasioned by the novel coronavirus pandemic and other critical factors that have affected the sources of revenue accruals, the Dr. Fayemi-led administration has strived to ensure the implementation of the 2020 budget with determination and focus.
Last modified: December 23, 2020
