BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO EKITI —The Ekiti State  Governor , Dr. Kayode Fayemi  yesterday presented  a sum of N93.6 billion as budget estimate  for 2013  fiscal year, with a vow to sustain the social security scheme.

The governor equally promised to create a new  Ministry that would coordinate programmes targeted at eradicating poverty in the state.

In the budget christened  ‘Budget of Empowerment and Consolidation’,the sum of  N47.1 billion was earmarked for capital project, constituting   about 50.4 per cent, while 46. 4 billion was set aside  for recurrent expenditure,  which represents  about 49.6 per cent of the budget.

To finance the projects, Fayemi said the sum of N31. 4 billion is expected from the Federation Account, while N7.3 billion will be sourced  from the Value Added Tax (VAT)

He further revealed that a sum of N4.6 billion is expected as external  grant from international agency, while N14.3 billion is expected to be accessed  from the Internally Generated Revenue.

In financing the budget, a sum of N8.5 billion is expected from the Excess Crude Oil, while a sum of N7.1 billion is to be sourced from the capital market.

Fayemi further disclosed that his administration  would  place priority on good health care delivery in 2013, saying, this would commence through a well packaged free health care mission and renovation of General Hospitals  and Primary Health Centres  across the State.

Fayemi said that his government would focus on the renovation and construction of township roads in three urban towns of  Ijero, Ikere and Ikole Ekiti in2013, while some  rural-urban roads in some selected towns would be given adequate attention.

Fayemi  pledged to make the empowerment of  rural women a priority.

He, further, disclosed that over 20 new roads initiated  upon assumption of office and  25 others inherited  from the immediate past administration would be completed next year.