The Ondo State government has opened up in their plans to spend N3.2 billion on security this year.
This was made known on Monday, 9th January in Akure by the State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Emmanuel Igbasan while presenting the 2023 budget analysis to journalists
According to him, he said N2 billion was earmarked to provide security hardware for the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun.
Recall in December 5, 2022, the Governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu 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
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.
“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’.”
