2021 Budget: Ekiti Allocates ₦1.44bn For Amotekun

• A sum of N550 million has been earmarked for purchase of drone

• Government also budgeted a total of N8 billion for critical areas of social services

The Ekiti state government says it has earmarked ₦1.44billion for the South West Security Network codenamed Amotekun in its 2021 appropriation bill.

Ekohotblog reports that the commissioner for budget in the state Femi Ajayi disclosed this a press conference in Ado-Ekiti.

He said the state will pull all the stops in 2021 to ensure that the state does not become an enclave for criminal activities.

The state has recorded a surge in criminal activities and insecurity, particularly kidnapping and farmers/herders clash.

Ajayi gave a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of the N109.666 billion budget passed by the state legislative and recently assented to by governor Kayode Fayemi.

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

Ajayi said that the focus on security was driven by  the need to attract investment and ensure 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 other South-Western States on 19th October, 2020.

Read Also: There Are Yorubas Who Want Amotekun To Fail – Makinde

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

The commissioner said that government had also budgeted 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 aimed at resuscitating the economy in light of COVID-19 challenges and herald a fresh vista in the fight against poverty, engendering of industrial growth and agribusiness.

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611