Date: 2014-04-15

The Kwara Government said on Monday that it had earmarked N20.7 billion for the education sub-sector in the 2014 fiscal year.

The Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Mr Bode Ogunleye, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the breakdown of the 2014 budget in Ilorin.

Ogunleye, who said investment in education remained the major focus of the state government, added that the International Vocational Centre would be completed this year.

He further said government would embark on comprehensive rehabilitation of Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the state.

Government, he said, would commence the development of portal for e-learning in secondary schools and complete some infrastructural development projects in all tertiary institutions.

Ogunleye reiterated government’s resolve to facilitate greater participation of private investors in commercial farming and agro-allied industrial businesses.

The commissioner said N1.95 billion was allocated to Agriculture sub-sector to execute projects like desilting of Duku-Lade irrigation scheme, integrated Youth Farm Settlement, Malete and the implementation of Kwara Agriculture Master Plan.

On Works and Transport, the commissioner said that N8.7billion, which represented 13.7 per cent of the total capital budget, was allocated to the sub-sector.

Ogunleye said priority would be given to all on-going projects in the state, disclosing that the cargo terminal complex would also be completed.

He said that attention would be given to equipping the International Aviation College by purchasing additional aircraft for practical training of students.

Another N2.8billion, he said, was earmarked for water supply projects in the state.

On health , the commissioner said five new general hospitals would be rehabilitated this year while four comprehensive health centres would be built and equipped.

The government, he said , would also rehabilitate two primary healthcare centers and establish a new HIV/AIDS centre.

He stressed that efforts would be made to improve Internal Generation Revenue collection mechanism in the face of dwindling allocation from the Federation Account.

The commissioner added that the government would equally monitor the performances in the implementation of approved programmes and projects to ensure result and evidence-based budget performance.

(NAN)