The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has presented a total budget proposal of N350.74bn as the 2022 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly.
A sum of N170bn is projected for physical capital projects representing an increase of N10bn from the current 2021 budget.
A total of N7.7bn would be set aside for stabilisation fund to insulate and position the State towards unprecedented activities or economic shocks.
Giving a breakdown of the appropriation bill christened: ‘Budget of Restoration’, Governor Abiodun said that “the sum of N170bn would cater for capital expenditure, while personnel cost would take N75bn, with N51bn earmarked for overhead expenses.”
He noted that N28bn was set aside for debt service obligations to attract capital investment into the State economy.
The Governor explained that “the physical capital projects were meant to chart an economic recovery growth through investment in physical projects that would create enabling environment for investment, create employment and trigger redistribution of resources.”
On the budget sourcing, Governor Abiodun stated that the total State funding was estimated at N350.74bn including N56.30bn expected to be sourced through internally generated revenue, while the revenue targets of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was put at N96.87bn totaling N153.17bn.
He stressed that “N73.01bn was being expected from the Federation Account, while the sum of N124.56bn would be sourced from capital receipts.”
Reeling out the highlights of the 2022 capital projects in line with the ISEYA pillars of the present administration, the Governor explained that “Infrastructure would gulp N82bn, with N86bn expected to be spent on Social Welfare and Well Being, just as N56b was being voted for Education, just as Youth Empowerment would get N6bn.”
He said that N15bn would go for Agriculture, while Enablers which consisted of General Public Service, Public Order and Safety, Stabilization Fund, Judiciary, Legislature, Pension and Gratuity would have N106bn.
Giving a sectorial breakdown of the estimate, the Governor said that N56.07bn was being allocated for education sector, representing 16%, while N35.07bn would cater for the health sector, with the Housing and community development sector sharing N28.65bn, just as N15.21bn was voted for Agriculture and industry.
According to him, infrastructure would gulp N77.77bn representing 22% of the total budget, with Recreation, Culture and Religion to share N6.32bn, just as N22.097bn would be spent on social protection.
He further promised that the 2022 Budget would contain only implementable and critical projects, which when completed, would significantly address current structural challenges in the State economy, improve the business environment and accelerate economic recovery.
The Governor said; ”In 2022, we will continue to accord priority attention to the completion of existing projects; projects with revenue potential; projects consistent with priorities articulated in the State Economic Development Strategy and projects that can enhance employment generation.”
The Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, lauded the various infrastructure projects put in place by the Governor across the three Senatorial districts, with an assurance of continuous mutual interdependence between the legislature and other arms of government towards achieving more monumental development in all facets of the State economy.
Oluomo noted that a speedy and thorough legislative process would be conducted on the proposed budget with a view to sustaining the tradition of its passage on record time to comply with the January to December cycle in line with international financial standard.
The Speaker on behalf of his colleague-lawmakers sought for the release of their annual constituency project intervention fund to enable the lawmakers implement their respective constituency projects with a view to complementing the developmental projects put in place in all constituencies to further restore the honour and dignity of the lawmakers.
The Speaker equally sought for the release of the severance allowance of members who served in the Suraju Adekunbi-led Eighth Legislature.
He added that such would enable them cater for expenses being integral members of the present administration in the State.
The budget presentation was attended by the State Deputy Governor, former Deputy Governor, former Speakers of the House of Assembly, Head of Service, former Military Administrators in the State, members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers as well as the body of Permanent Secretaries, and party stalwarts amongst others.
Dominica Nwabufo
