Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has reiterated the focus of his administration to provide qualitative governance for the people of the state.
Giving the assurance while speaking during the citizen’s engagement on the 2024–2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2024 budget at Ijebu-Ode, the governor said he would create enabling environment for a public-private sector partnership, which he considered was fundamental to the creation of enduring economic development and individual prosperity.
The citizen engagement, which was the first in the series for the 2024 budget public awareness creation, attracted several stakeholders, including traditional rulers, women groups, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), students, professional groups and members of Community Development Associations (CDAs).
Represented at the forum by Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the governor said that the administration was keen on the MTEF forum, based on the style of governance and avowed pledge to be open and accountable in all ways and to run an inclusive administration where everyone is involved in the decision-making process.
He said: “This is a multi-year public expenditure planning exercise that is used to set out the future budget requirements for existing services and to access the resource implications of future policy changes and any new programmes.
“As you all know, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework enhances the transparency of the budget process and budget documentation so that policy goals and resource allocation are clearly set out.
“In this way, it empowers the government to determine priorities and seamlessly deliver democratic deliverables without predilection or sentiment
“The promise to continuously engage citizens, is still fresh in our hearts and remains irrevocable; this is why our infrastructural investments are people-oriented and transformational, with resultant and obvious multiplier effects on the socio-economic development of the state.
“I am happy to inform you that we have done and will continue to do so through our ISEYA mantra as encapsulated in the ‘Building Our Future Together’ Agenda, institutional policy, and structural revolutions for individuals”, the governor added.
Abiodun pointed out that the administration’s infrastructure investments were people-oriented and transformational, with immense multiplier effects on the socio-economic development of the entire citizenry of the state.
While specifically mentioning some of the projects executed in Ijebu land, sequel to inputs of citizenry, the governor promised to continue to engage the people, to know their needs.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Olaolu Olabimtan, said the administration would ensure that no section of the state would develop at the expense of the others.
He highlighted some of the projects executed by the administration in the last five years, noting that government would concentrate on people oriented projects and those that can enhance the state’s revenue generation.
Stakeholders, who spoke at the event, commended Governor Abiodun on the several developmental projects executed in Ijebuland and also pointed out areas where the administration should intervene.
