OUR BUDGET WILL BRING MORE DEVELOPMENT, CREATE PROSPERITY- ABIODUN

 “The expenditure is going to be targeted at programmes and projects, aimed at continued development of our State and creating more prosperity for to people. In doing this, we will be achieving the mission of our administration, as embodied in the Building our Future Together Agenda”, he said.

The Governor also challenged Civil Servants to device ways of allocating resources to government policies, projects and programmes that have direct impact on the lives of the people, noting that Public Servants’ duties go beyond merely allocation of resources, but also to programmes that make meaning to people’s lives.

 “We must realise that our responsibilities to the people of our State go beyond channeling the routine patterns for the use of public resources. We must device a system of strategic allocation of resources which ensure that politics, government’s projects and programmes would have impact on people’s lives’.

 The Governor said the Meeting which was the first full Budget of the present administration, was the climax of the planning process which involved sensitisation programmes on the vision and focus of government as well as Town Hall meetings in the three Senatorial Districts.

 “The process for the preparation of year 2020 Budget started with sensitisation programme on the vision and mission of government. It was followed with town hall meetings in the three Senatorial Districts’.

 “Holding town hall meetings across the three Senatorial Districts was a clear departure from the one town hall meeting which usually held at the State capital. These Town Hall meetings provided a veritable platform to meet with the people’.

‘It also provided opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially as it concerns inclusiveness, gender equality, peace, Justice and Partnership to achieve the goals. All of these are premised on the fact that our administration is an open one”, the Governor noted.

 Penpushing further reports that, Abiodun  said the meeting was an opportunity to consolidate on the gains of democracy, adding that it would also allow his government to integrate plans of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to attain qualitative and comprehensive visible public expenditure profile.

The Governor lauded Public Servants for the effective implementation of the 2019 Budget, attributing it to their commitment, professionalism, diligence and dedication, urging them not to rest on their oars, as the attainment of the optimum welfare of the residents, irrespective of their social status, religion or political affiliations, rest on them.

The Consultant to the Governor on Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan while welcoming participants to the meeting said the meeting was aimed assessing the 2020 Budget estimates to alter and adjust it as deemed for by the board and then approve for further processing.

Penpushing reports that, Olabimtan informed that for the first time in the State, the Dapo Abiodun-led administration has prepared a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the State with an improved Medium Term Sectoral Strategy model which introduces costing for government projects.

The Consultant noted that the developments have reduced the time it takes to move from MTSS stage to the budget stage considerably, while reducing the gap between the requests of MDAs and the approved estimates they will eventually get.