Ekiti earmarks N1.4bn to equip Amotekun in 2021 budget

The Ekiti State Government, has,in a bid to address the current security situation in the state, said it will spend a sum of N1.4 billion on the State Security Network codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’ in 2021 fiscal year.

In the same year, government  earmarked a total of N8 billion to social services, covering education, health, gender empowerment, social security and other pivotal subsectors critical to the growth of the state’s economy.

The Commissioner for Budget, Mr. Femi Ajayi, said these in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend during the breakdown of the 2021 appropriation law with a budgetary provision of N109.666 billion.

Governor Kayode Fayemi had on December 23, 2020 assented to the budgetary provision christened “Budget of Recovery and Economic Restoration”, comprising N58.4 billion recurrent and N51.6 billion capital expenditures .

To fund the budget, Ajayi said a total of N29.6 billion is expected from the federation account, N8.4 billion as Internally Generated Revenue, N4.5 billion from tertiary institutions and other sundry sources.

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

He said: “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 other South-Western States on 19th October, 2020.“

A sum of N1.44 billion has been earmarked as capital allocation for Amotekun Corps. For procurement of Drones for surveillance, a sum of N550million has been earmarked while a total of 320 million will be spent on safety city project and the Ekiti State Security Trust Fund will gulp a sum of  N55 million.

”He said a sum of N2.4 billion had been budgeted to start off the Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology while a total of N677 million  was earmarked for the school of Commercial Agriculture, Isan-Ekiti.

“Because of our preference for human capital development and equality of all genders, the state has proposed to hold a Gender Summit and a sum of N35 million had been budgeted to realise this, while a sum of N20 million will be spent on construction of family court to attend to family issues timeously.

”On urban renewal development, Ajayi said a sum of N250 million is to be expended on the Master Plan of Ado-Ekiti and Satellite Towns while a sum of  N4.5 million will be spent on ecological programme called NEWMAP.The commissioner assured the present administration will leave no stone unturned in ensuring 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