By DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA — Ogun State Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun yesterday presented  a total  sum of N211.86 billion as 2013 appropriation bill as against N200.55billion for this year.

Amosun who presented the bill tagged ‘Budget  for  Sustainable Growth,’ said   the 2013  estimates for projects stood at N118.23, representing 55.80 per cent of the budget.

Like  the 2012 budget, education gulped the largest share of N43.44billion, representing 20.53 per cent of the budget proposal, while the recurrent was put at   22.93 per cent of the budget, amounting to N93.64 billion.

Presenting the budget to the members of the state House of Assembly at the Oke-Mosan House of Assembly Complex, Governor Ibikunle Amosun said  agriculture attracted a paltry N10.69billion, representing  5.05 per cent of the income and expenditure.

He also said  that rural and infrastructure development would take N39.92 billion, which is 18.70 per cent, thereby standing as the second largest consuming sector of the budget.

Housing and Urban renewal  was proposed to gulp   N29.62 billion, which is 13.98 per cent while health care delivery was expected to take  N14.72 billion, representing 6.95 per cent  from the next year budget.

“Another sector that will occupy the centre stage in government activity in 2013 is agriculture and forestry; accordingly, a total sum of N10.69  billion (5.05 per cent) has been allocated to increased agricultural production/industrialization.

“It is hoped that the entire value-chain will be fully exploited and comparative advantage in areas of food supply, job creation and preservation of our forest reserves will be fully explored,”he said.