In a bid to ensure that the masses feel the impact of government in every sector, the government of the State of Osun, under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that it is determined to ensure that budget estimates hit at least 85% performance when measured at the end of every year.
These were the words of the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Professor Olalekan Yinusa, while declaring open a two-day interactive meeting on the preparation of the Medium Term Sector Strategy(MTSS) and the 2021 estimates of the state.
Speaking further at the meeting which brought together the political heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as their accounting officers, Yinusa urged those in charge of preparing the budget for the various MDAs to avoid presenting unrealistic figures.
He said technocrats need to face the reality that the resources of the state is limited, hence the need for the state’s budget to be tailored towards areas that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time sensitive .
While stressing the determination of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to run an inclusive and participatory government, Yinusa stated that it is for that reason that the Governor embarked on a tour round the senatorial districts of the state to thank the people for electing him and ask for their specific needs.
He said the citizens’ needs assessment was to know the specific needs of the people, explaining that all the efforts are to ensure that unnecessary things are not put in the budget.
According to him: “We must all realize that the performance of a budget is an indicator of the efficiency of the budget and the people that prepared it, so you must all see this task as one that requires your utmost commitment.
“A good budget is one that can attain a high level of performance. Our Governor wants our budget to hit at least 85% performance because he is determined to positively impact the lives of the people who voted for him at the polls. We must be careful not to put things that are not necessary in the budget.
“From day one, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has shown the determination to run an inclusive and participatory government, and that was why he went on a ‘thank you tour’ round the state and asked for the specific needs of the people. That is why he also supported the citizens’ needs assessment. I urge us to please focus on those needs of the people because that is what the Governor wants to achieve”, he stressed.
Speaking on other components of the budget, Professor Yinusa emphasized that the most important aspect of the budget is the revenue generation because that is what is needed to drive the entire process.
He continued: “As you all know, without money little or nothing can be done. That is why all MDAs must also focus on the revenue generation aspect of their budget estimates. You must come up with a budget in which your projected revenue must be reasonable”.
In a remark, Special Adviser to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on Economic Planning and Budget, Hon. Aderemi Kolajo urged MDAs not to see the meeting as a form of passing instructions or making life difficult for them, but an effort to jointly move the state forward.
Sectors invited for the two-day interactive meeting are: Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Education, Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, Finance and Revenue Mobilisation, Health, Environment, Security, Law and Justice. Others are: Governance and Administration, Information and Civic Orientation as well as Social Development and Welfare.
