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Oyo’s Budget Is Base On Needs Of Common People- Makinde Reveals

Published

5 years ago

September 26, 2020

Governor Makinde said Oyo budget is centered on the needs of the common man.

News Rain reports that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has disclosed that the budget of the State has always been centered on the common essential needs of the people of the State.

Oyo’s Budget And The People By Makinde.

He said, “the aggregate needs of the common people of the State, which necessitated annual pre-budget zonal stakeholders’ consultative meetings before the budget was adopted.

Governor Makinde who was represented by the Secretary to the State government, Mrs. Olubanwo Adeosun, at the Ibadan fewer city stakeholders meeting which held at Ibadan North-East Local Government, secretariat, Iwo Road on Friday, noted the mandate given to the governor by the people of the State was for the government to come up with policies and actions that are people-oriented.

The meeting which had in attendance the leadership of some local government in the State comprised of Ido, Oluyole, Ona-Ara, Egbeda, Lagelu, and Akinyele local governments and their Local Council Development Areas.

Governor Makinde was quoted that the initiative was imperative for an effective and productive budget and economic planning that would touch all strata of the society.

According to the representative of the Governor, who said political campaigns and rallies should not be the only avenue through which the people in the rural settlements are remembered or approached, hence the rationale behind the government’s decision to bring the forum to the grassroots.

Quoting the governor, Mr. Olubamiwo said “this administration will always respect the people and their yearnings just like it did with the last budget, I have always said that I am in this position today because it is the will of the people and of God, and so, I am determined to continue to pursue and expand policies that will show that I respect the yearnings of the people.

“One of the ways our administration has done this is by ensuring that our communities are involved in the budgeting process.

“Last year, we produced our first budget, which we tagged, “The People’s Budget,” because we came out and engaged in town hall meetings and sought your input, you spoke and we listened, you made it clear that you wanted more capital projects and infrastructural development.

“You indicated that payment of salaries and gratuities was a sore point, as a result, of last year’s budget of N213.8Billion, capital expenditure was pegged at N103.4Billion, while recurrent expenditure had a value of N110.4Billion.

“The execution of the year 2020 budget tagged, ‘The People’s Budget’ was a success because the people were involved from the start to the end, which provides a foundation for the 2021 budget to also be drawn and implemented in the same light.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened, additionally, the fall in oil prices affected federal allocations to States, we had to slash the budget, however, we decided that whatever cuts we were making, payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities, as well as other emoluments to the State workforce, will not be affected. After the reductions, recurrent expenditure remained N108.9Billion while capital projects took a 36.9 percent hit and came down to N65.2Billion.

“We were able to carry out these people-centered projects because we started off the budget year by asking you the question: What would you like us to do for you?

“And so, we are back this year on a similar mission and this time, we are expanding the process and making it even more open and transparent.

Also in his address, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Bar. Adeniyi Farinto appreciated the people of Oke Ogun for their active participation in governance which has translated to the success of the 2020 Budget.

He explained that due to the commencement of this exercise, the State was opportune to be among the States that benefitted from the fund released through the program tagged “States Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) supported by the World Bank.

Present at the event were government functionaries like Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Bayo Lawal, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, Special Adviser to the governor on Economic Matters, Dr. Musbau Babatunde, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Economic Planning, Mr. Oluwaseyi Ogunsanya, and others