Bernice Larryoboh
The Ekiti State Government on Monday stated that it is committed to the development of human capital in the state.
This was said by the Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti state on budget, economic planning and performance management, Niyi Adebayo who revealed that youths empowerment and job creation are some of the priorities of the 2023 budget.
Adebayo said this during the analysis of the N113.5 billion 2023 budget in Ado-Ekiti, stating that efforts were made to cover all sectors in the budget.
In his words: “We will actively pursue the 6-pillar agenda and maintain our philosophy of shared prosperity. Efforts have been made to address all sectors in the budget within the limits of resource constraints facing the state.
“On youth development and job creation, there will be MSMEs, economic recovery programmes, grassroots development and provision of vocational tools.
“On infrastructure and industrial development, there will be construction of Atlas, Ajebamidele, deeper life, alasia shephered road all in Ado-Ekiti among other road construction across the state.
“This administration is committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency. The government is also committed to engenderin“g the growth of the state’s economy and improving the well-being of Ekiti indigenes and residents.”
In the budget titled, ‘Budget of Strong Beginning‘, the governor’s aide explained that the appropriation was prepared with inputs from the residents during the town hall meetings towards a solid foundation for the administration.
He added that the government adopted zero-based budgeting approach in putting it together, saying that the recently launched 30-year-old development plan formed the basis for sectoral allocations to achieve the six-point agenda of the administration.
He also noted that funds for further work on the airport which is designed to airlift the agricultural potentials of the state to the world and stimulate economic growth had been earmarked.
Recall that Former governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi alongside the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had on October 15, 2022 commissioned the agro-allied airport located along Ado-Ijan-Ekiti road amidst pomp and commendations.
The governor’s aide however explained that as of now only military aircrafts could land in the airport, adding that the control tower, passengers terminal and runaway were yet to be fully completed.
Speaking on the condition of the airport, the special adviser said, “ We can only land the military aircraft because we don’t have the full work of navigational aids. The military aircraft can land themselves with little or no air from control tower. So, we need to have a functional control tower, build a new terminal where passengers can wait to board plane. So, those are the expenditure we need in the new year; but the runway is very good.
“And of course, we need to provide necessary lighting infrastructures, so that planes can land in the evening, even daytime when you have foggy situation because light help the pilot to see the runway better.So, those are the areas where expenditure need to go into.”
“ We are trying to ensure when the airport comes on stream is actually useful to ensure the airport serves us well with minimal disruption to fly.”