Governor Dapo Abiodun Eyes 85% Budget Performance For 2021 Fiscal Yr, Rates IGR As Ogun’s Highest Ever

Abiodun Eyes 85% Budget Performance For 2021Fiscal Yr, Rates IGR As Ogun’s Highest Ever

Governor Dapo Abiodun says his administration is targeting 85percent budget performance at the end of the 2021 fiscal year, just as he described the N75billion Internally Generated Revenue realized as at last September as the highest ever in the history of Ogun State

Abiodun was speaking on Monday during a Treasury Board Meeting on Year 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and 2022 Budget, at the Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta, the state capital

The governor who put the outgoing 2021 budget performance of his administration at 70percent, revealed that the state’s economy had grown by 20percent

He stressed that his administration was working towards having a realistic and achievable Budget that would bring dividends of democracy and create more prosperity for the people.

He noted that it is imperative that the government strengthen and allocate resources to ensure that its policies, projects and programmes have the desired and optimum impact on the people.

His words,”That essentially is why we are all here today; Ministries, Departments and Agencies to chart an action plan for the successful implementation of our policies and programmes in the coming year.

“Year 2022 offers a hope of full recovery from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic with great expectations of increased economic activities. It is the last full year budget before the general elections in the year 2023. All hands must be on deck in our development planning process, to enable us evaluate our achievements in the outgoing year and determine new approaches for the success of Year 2022 Budget implementation'”, Abiodun stated

The governor stressed the need to be conscious of a vibrant Budget performance, through revenue generation which would also indicate where to get the funds,

He quickly pointed out that the policies and approaches by government should be aimed at avoiding heavy deficit in budget performance

Abiodun added that government had been creative in maintaining the delicate balance between wants and needs, so as not to overburden the people in the course of generating revenue.

Speaking on measures to speed up the Budget, the governor said Ministries, Departments and Agencies proposals would be collated by the end of the month for the State Executive Council to approve it for presentation to the State House of Assembly

He expressed optimism that the needful would be done by the House for its passage and signing into law by mid-December this year.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, said that stakeholders’ meetings were held to have their inputs into the proposed 2023 budget inline with global best practices

He added that the administration in 2019, produced the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), Medium Revenue Strategy and preparing for the third edition of MTEF.

According to him, the State’s MTEF is being considered by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, as a model for other states in the region

Olabimtan urged government agencies to redouble their efforts in revenue generation, as government’s task is to deliver good governance and accountable to the people.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, noted that the budget estimate would not be completed without the contributions of MDAs, adding that the State Land Administration and Revenue Management System, OLARMS, has recorded 1,500 applicants since it was launched

He charged the operators of the scheme to ensure that the State get value from the Programme.