Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose has promised to pay N5,000 to 10,000 widows monthly as part of the state’s social security scheme.
Fayose said this while presenting the 2017 budget, which he tagged: Budget of Higher Height, to the state House of Assembly.
The Governor also revealed that the state could not achieve more than 89% of its budget projections because of the economic hardship in the country.
He said “Our Social Security Scheme will receive additional boost with provision for widows and women empowerment.”
Fayose said ”The performance of the budget is a reflection of the state of the Nigerian economy. It must be noted that Ekiti State is not immuned to the shocks and depression of the national socio-economic scene. It is no longer news that the economy of the nation is in trauma and this had impacted negatively on the finances of the state.”
The budget items presented reveals that recurrent expenditure is N55.02 billion which is 59 percent of the budget, while Capital Expenditure is N38.42 billion or 41 percent of the estimates, Daily Post reports.
Fayose said “The ongoing works on the Ado Ekiti Flyover bridge, Oja Oba Modern Market, Ikere Road Dualization, Construction of Governor’s Office and High Court Complex among others shall continue.
“We shall also dualize more roads in some Local Government Headquarters. We hope to complete some ongoing rural electrification projects and start new ones in Ile Ona, Iwaji, Igeede, Ilokun and Aba Igbira Waste Plant among others. We intend to boost our capacity in Agriculture by supporting our farmers in Cocoa and Rice production,” Fayose said.
The Speaker of the Ekiti state Assembly, in his response, commended the Governor for judiciously managing the state’s resources.
