Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti says the state’s 2023 budget will promote adequate security, power and a good road network.

Mr Oyebanji made the promise in Ikole, Ekiti South Senatorial District, during a citizens’ engagement meeting with delegates from the state’s three senatorial districts.

He said the recently launched 30-year-development plan of the state would be his working document to achieve overall development.

He said his administration was irrevocably committed to participatory and all-inclusive government and budgeting.

The governor noted that the requests of all the communities were similar and assured that his administration would address their concerns about insecurity.

He also challenged the people on the need to assist security agencies in intelligence gathering by providing relevant information on suspicious movements or activities to enable the agencies to track down people with criminal tendencies.

“I agree we should step up our action on `Amotekun’ (the southwest regional security outfit) and strengthen it, but ‘Amotekun’ without intelligence is zero,” he said.

Mr Oyebanji also vowed to look into the various concerns of the people, including electricity supply, potable water, rehabilitation of roads, and renovation of school buildings.

He said his administration was already making efforts with relevant authorities to ensure that electricity supply is restored in areas without power supply for years.

The governor said the administration would establish an Ombudsman office, where people can supply the government with useful information to guide it in its decision-making process.

Mr Oyebanji said this was part of efforts towards strengthening feedback mechanisms from the people and appealed for support to enable him to achieve the lofty goals.

“As a responsible government, we are of the firm belief that citizens’ participation in the budgeting process enables ownership and efficient service delivery.

“Our annual budget preparation process shall be bottom-up, whereby the needs and interests of the people shall be articulated.

“The involvement of the citizens in budget preparation is geared towards effective utilisation of public funds based on the needs of the people,” he stressed.

(NAN)