Ondo govt to spend N3.2bn on security

The Ondo State government on Monday said it will be spending N3.2bn on security this year.

The state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Emmanuel Igbasan while presenting the 2023 budget analysis to journalists in Akure, the state capital, said the sum of N2bn was earmarked to provide security hardware for the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun.

The Governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu on December 5, 2022, presented a total budget proposal of N272.73 bn to the state House of Assembly but the lawmakers passed N275. 98bn, which he signed into law in December.

The commissioner said, “Provision of security hardware for Amotekun, N2bn; procurement of security vehicles, N500m; provision of security equipment/infrastructure, N700m and purchase of 10 motorcycles for bailiff and security personnel and other courts’ staff, N5m.

He explained that the budget was prepared on the basis of inputs garnered during the town hall meetings in nine federal constituencies.

Igbasan said the stakeholders consulted before the budget was prepared to include farmers, women groups, youth groups, artisan unions, professional bodies, persons with disabilities, organised private sectors, among others.

He said, “Ondo State recently ranked the least in multi-dimensional poverty index in the country in a survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in conjunction with UNICEF and others. This feat is occasioned by people-oriented programmes embarked upon by this administration which paid due attention to economic drivers and enablers during the year.

“There is the need to deepen the economic impact of various programmes which earn the state this recognition. The next step will be to ensure that more people are enlisted in the production loop and taken out of poverty.

“Mr Governor has, therefore, approved that programmes that will affect the majority of our people be prioritised in the year. Hence, the budget is titled a ‘Budget of shred prosperity’.”