Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Ogun State government has earmarked 20 percent of its revised 2020 budget to the health sector as part of measures to sustain the fight against coronavirus pandemic.
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, stated this at the Virtual Consultative Meeting on Year 2020 Revised Budget, held at the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
Abiodun also revealed that provision has also been made for some critical sectors, including education, infrastructure, environment and security, to reduce the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on the people.
He explained that the pandemic has brought about its attendance implications, hence, government needed to work through it and come up with a realistic budget that would serve the interest of the people.
He said: “Let me reiterate that the government shall continue to focus more attention towards the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has earmarked about 20 percent of the revised 2020 budget to the health sector to fight the deadly virus.
“Similarly, provision has been made in the revised budget in some crucial sectors that are expected to mitigate the effects, both economic and social, of COVID-19 pandemic in the education, environment, infrastructure, social protection and public order and safety sectors”.
The meeting, the governor noted, was necessitated by the current review of the 2020 budget as a result of COVID-19.
He pointed out that expenditure such as personnel emoluments, monthly running costs and other related expenses could not be waived by the government.
Abiodun said the state has already incurred expenses by establishing three isolation centres at Ikenne, Abeokuta and Sagamu, trained 426 public health workers and fumigate public buildings, among others, in its efforts at curbing the spread of coronavirus.
He, however, said as a government committed to inclusiveness, openness, accountability and transparency, the present administration believes a change in the pattern of expenditure from a collective agreement, should also have the input of the people.
He restated his commitment implementing the items on the contract between the government and the governed.