By Mike Adeyemi
The Kwara State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale has disclosed that the state government has been able to implement 45 percent of its fiscal budget for 2018.
Speaking during an interview with Pilot Business in his office on Tuesday, Odewale, added that the success recorded in budget implementation in the second quarter is unprecedented.
He stated that many infrastructural projects were executed in the second quarter of the year.
“We had about 29 per cent implementation of capital projects, while the overall level of performance of 2018 Kwara budget is within 43-45 per cent as at the end of second quarter.
“The major economic achievement of 2018 fiscal year so far is the area of infrastructure development which will stimulate and improve socio-economic activities of the state,” the commissioner explained.
He further stated that the state government has been able to improve on energy, transport, commerce and cooperative, water supply, construction of prototypes complex, among others.
“There are also some micro-projects implemented through the Kwara State Community, and Social Development Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
“It is a World Bank assisted project with the counterpart fund provided by the Kwara State government and the communities have their 10 percent contribution for any project of their choice in their respective areas.”
On job creation, Odewale said the state government has put in place an agricultural value chain through the disbursement of N1 billion loan to farmers under the Central Bank of Nigeria Anchor Borrower’s Programme.
“About 8,889 youths with additional 20,000 applicants were captured through the joint efforts of the Federal Government and the state in the areas of N-power,” he further said.
The commissioner revealed that about 1,210 youths in February this year were employed under, he Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) programme, with N7,500 being paid monthly, adding that by September another 8,669 youth would added to the scheme.
When queried on the slow pace of some capital projects in the state, he alluded the challenge to paucity of fund.
He, however, said government is working round the clock and come up with measures to ensure that no project is left abandoned at expiring of the tenure of the present administration.
