The Governor of Ekiti State held a town hall meeting with stakeholders to discuss preparations for the 2018 budget. Representatives from the 16 local government areas attended to provide input on community priorities. They requested improvements to infrastructure like roads and electricity as well as security measures. The Governor discussed challenges from reduced federal funding and pledged to address stakeholders' needs in the new budget while continuing regular meetings for consultation.

1. REPORT OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS OF HIS EXCELLENCY, THE
GOVERNOR WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE STATE IN PREPARATORY
FOR THE 2018 BUDGET, HELD ON MONDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT THE
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GROUND, ADO-EKITI
1.0. INTRODUCTION:
1.1 The meeting was organized in order to facilitate the contributions of the
representatives of every community in the State in preparatory to the 2018 Budget.
1.2 This approach gave maximum opportunity for the Stakeholders across the
sixteen (16) Local Government Areas in the State to express their views on how the
2018 Budget would look like in line with the request of each community.
2.0. OBJECTIVE:
2.1 The essence of the meeting was to ensure that, the 2018 Budget was
packaged to address significantly the priority areas that would speed-up
developmental progress across the nooks and crannies of the State through a people
oriented Budget. Equally, to give room for the Stakeholders to contribute
meaningfully (and give comments where necessary) in order to ensure that the
documentation submitted and the work undertaken in the preparation of the 2018
Fiscal year Budget reflects the decisions of the good people of Ekiti State.
3.0. BUSINESS OF THE DAY:
3.1 PRESENTATION OF 2017 BUDGET OVERVIEW:
3.1.1 The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning
informed the Stakeholders on the Economic importance of Budget. He said that to
have a properly planned spending (Public and Private), budgeting was necessary.

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He equally informed them of the achievements of this Administration in the past
three (3) years. He did a comparative analysis of the 2016 with 2017 Budgets and
informed the Stakeholders that the efforts of the Government were geared towards
the six (6) cardinal programmes.
3.2 PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE STATE:
3.2.1 The Permanent Secretary cum Accountant General for the State explained the
financial position of the State to the Stakeholders from 2014-2017. She informed
them that due to the dwindling nature of Federal Allocations to the State, the
revenues to the State and the Local Government have continually diminished.
3.3 MR. GOVERNOR’S REMARKS:
3.3.1 In His remarks, His Excellency, the Executive Governor from Ekiti State, Dr.
Peter Ayodele Fayose informed the Stakeholders that he would sustain holding the
meeting with them by inviting the Ekiti Stakeholders to meetings on regular basis (at
least once in three (3) months) in order to be properly informed about the business
and efforts of the Government towards Socio-Economic development in the State.
He added that, regular meetings with them (the Stakeholders) would provide
opportunity for the Government to know the needs of the people.
3.3.2 The Governor described Budget as compilation of inputs from the people for
processing and actualization towards meaningful and developmental economic
decision and implementation. He informed the Stakeholders on the regular
dwindling nature of the Federal Allocation to the State and he admonished the
people to always be the voice of the Government at their various grassroots levels.

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He promised the Participants that their needs according to priority would be
incorporated into the 2018 Budget. He said the reason for the unabated reduction
in the revenue from the Federal Government was the deductions for repayment of
the loans (Bonds and Commercial Banks) incurred by the previous Administration in
the State. He stressed that the repayment would last till 2036.
3.3.3 The Governor invited a Chief among the Stakeholders to elucidate on the
concept of Sustainable Development. In his contribution, one of the Chiefs who
represented Ado-Ekiti described Sustainable Development as the ability to meet the
present needs without jeopardizing the future. The Governor, agreed with the
speaker and promised the people of his willingness to continue doing his best for
development of Ekiti State within the available resources.
3.3.4 In addition, the Governor informed the gathering of his zero tolerance to
insecurity and threat to peaceful co-existence among the people of the State and the
reason for enactment of Animal Grazing Law by the Ekiti State House of Assembly
which was assented to by the Governor in the presence of the Stakeholders on the
29th August, 2016. He equally used the opportunity to solicit for Private-Public
collaboration in areas of information gathering and sharing which would help the
Government put all its security Apparatus into action against the insurgents and
criminal minded people of the under-world in order to stop crimes and insecurity in
the State.
3.3.5 In Conclusion, the Governor assured the people of the determination of his
Administration to always carry them along on decisions that would ultimately affect
them.

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4.0. THE INTERACTIVE SESSION:
4.1 At this juncture, the floor was made opened for contributions, questions and
comments from the Stakeholders. The following were the excerpts:
i. ADO-EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of Ewi of Ado, appreciated the Governor and
his team for the various Developmental projects on-going in Ado-Ekiti. He further
implored the Governor to complete the on-going fly-over project.
ii. IKOLE-EKITI:
The Chief from Ikole appreciated the Governor and thanked him for his
promise to carry the community along in the 2018 Budget. He requested for the
completion of the on-going dual carriage way at Ikole township.
iii. GBONYIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The representative of the Local Government Area appreciated the Governor
and requested for:
a. Rehabilitation of the Road from Ise/Orun through Agbado to the LGA; and
b. Political Appointment consideration for the Sons and Daughters of the
area.
iv. ARAMOKO EKITI:
The representative of the community request for road rehabilitation in the
Area.

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vi. ILAWE EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government appreciated the
Governor for his visionary leadership and suggested that Local Government Councils
should conduct Economic submit to map-out necessary strategies towards internal
Revenue Generation in order to cater for their Chiefs welfare.
vii. IKERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government appreciated the
Governor for all the developmental projects executed in the town such as; the
extension of Water Pipeline in Ikere Township and the on-going dualization of Ikere-
Ekiti Township road.
viii. IGBOLE-EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the community appreciated the Governor
and requested for additional establishment of Schools and construction of roads in
the town.
ix. ISABA IKOLE:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Community requested for Road
construction and Electrification (Provision of Transformers) for the community.
Additionally, he requested that the indigenes of the town be considered for
political appointments in the nearest future.

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x. IJERO LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government requested for
adequate security and safety of the people of Ijero Local Government. He further
requested for the following:
a. Construction of Road from Ayegunle to Iloro;
b. Electrification in the Local Government Area; and
c. Water supply and the completion of on-going dualization of Ijero
Township road.
xi. OYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government appreciated the
Government on its effort on the EKSCDA programme in the Area, while more
developmental projects were requested for, like good roads and Electrification of the
Rural Community in the Area.
xii. ILEJEMEJE LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government said the construction
of road at Ero should continue.
xiii. EFON ALAAYE LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government requested for Water
supply in the Area.

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xiv. ERINMOPE EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Community requested for road
Construction from Erinmope to Ikosun.
xv. OKE AKO EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Community requested for the
establishment of Military post in the area for adequate security.
xvi. OGOTUN EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the community requested for the provision
of adequate security and safety of lives and properties because the reserved forest
in the Area was causing serious security challenges to the people.
xvii. OMUO EKITI:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government said that rearing of
domestic animals should be controlled.
xviii. IDO-OSI LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The Chief who spoke on behalf of the Local Government requested for
adequate security and safety at orin-ora and better welfare packages for the Chiefs
in the Area.
4.2. THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED AS FOLLOWS:
i. that all roads belonging to the Local Government Councils should be
given the deserved attention by the Local Government Authorities;

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ii. that the payment of allowances of Chiefs was direct responsibilities of
the Local Government Council Authorities. He promised them better
welfare packages as soon as the economy of the State improves;
iii. that quick and immediate security action would be taken against the
criminal-minded people in the nooks and crannies of the State;
` iv. The Governor equally directed that the Stakeholders should collaborate
with their Local Government Council Authorities to deliberate on their
various areas of pressing needs and forward a position paper to the
State Government through their Local Government Chairmen for
onward transmission to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning
for appropriate action and inclusion into the 2018 Budget.
5.0. CLOSING REMARKS:
5.1 In his closing remarks, the Chairman, Traditional Chiefs in Ekiti State
appreciated the Governor for his benevolence and hospitality shown to them. He
said that the meeting had given recognition to Ekiti State Traditional Chiefs. He
reminded the Governor of the need to sustain the Electrification projects in his Local
Government Area. He informed the Governor that necessary efforts were on-going
to ensure timely submission of the Traditional Chiefs’ requests for consideration. He
promised their support for the State Government. He urged the Governor to kindly
use his good office to ensure prompt payment of the 5% statutory allowance of the
Chiefs.

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5.2 However, the Governor in his closing remarks promised to always recognize
and regularly hold meetings through which their needs aspirations and desires would
be honoured. He urged the Chairmen and the Local Government Councillors from
the various Local Government Areas to adequately discharge their statutory
responsibilities to the Traditional Chiefs accordingly. He stressed that 60% support
from the Chiefs, including letters of Recommendations from them would hence forth
be used in determination of and consideration for Political appointment under his
Administration.
The Governor entertained the Stakeholders and distributed cash gifts to them
based on their communities.