We’ll implement only 30% of 2027 budget before leaving office — Makinde

… Oyo records over 70% budget performance — SSG

… Assembly pledges scrutiny of 2027 budget

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said his administration expects to implement only about 30 per cent of the state’s 2027 budget before handing over to a new government on May 29, 2027.

Makinde stated this on Friday during the stakeholders’ consultative engagement on the 2027 budget, held at Olola Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

The governor also said infrastructure projects executed by his administration were designed to stand the test of time, citing the 65-kilometre Moniya-Iseyin Road, which he said had retained about 90 per cent of its condition seven years after construction.

He said his administration recognised early that infrastructure development was essential to economic growth and had invested in projects that increased the value of assets across Oyo State.

According to him, the state’s future development would depend not only on constructing new infrastructure but also on prudent financial management and the sustainability of reforms introduced by his administration.

Makinde said, “We understood early that building infrastructure was the foundation for economic growth. These investments have significantly increased the value of assets across the state.

“What Oyo State needs going forward is not necessarily more engineers, but prudent financial managers who can maintain these projects and sustain the institutionalised reforms we have put in place.”

On the 2027 budget, the governor explained that the incoming administration would have limited time to implement the financial plan before taking over the running of the state.

He said, “We will implement at most 30 per cent of the 2027 budget because a new administration will take over on May 29, 2027.”

The governor also defended his administration’s tractorisation policy, saying the decision to scrap the loss-making government tractor unit and privatise tractor services had improved farmers’ access to mechanised farming.

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He maintained that the policy was intended to make agricultural services more accessible and efficient while reducing the financial burden on the state government.

Makinde also expressed concern over the withholding of funds accruable to states from Nigeria LNG dividends, alleging that each state was expected to receive a refund of N250 billion but that the payments had been delayed until after the 2027 elections.

He thanked residents for supporting his administration over the last seven years, noting that the state’s budget implementation record had improved significantly.

“Over the last seven years, whenever we put an item in the budget, there has been a 70 per cent chance of executing it,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Abayomi Ojo, described the stakeholders’ consultative engagement as an important platform for determining the state’s development priorities.

Ojo said the exercise went beyond routine consultation, providing an opportunity for dialogue and consensus-building among government officials, community representatives and other stakeholders.

He said the budget remained a critical instrument for translating government policies into tangible programmes, projects and services.

According to him, the 2027 budget must be guided by sound economic principles, realistic revenue projections, prudent expenditure and effective allocation of resources to priority sectors.

He added that the budget should also mainstream nutrition, early childhood development and climate change, with adequate funding, effective monitoring and measurable outcomes.

Ojo urged participants to make constructive contributions supported by evidence to improve the budget preparation process.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, said the Makinde administration had replaced ad hoc budgeting with a people-centred framework designed to reflect the needs and priorities of residents.

Babatunde disclosed that Oyo State now recorded more than 70 per cent budget performance, compared with the 30 per cent level inherited by the administration in 2019.

Giving an update on the state’s financial performance, he said Oyo had achieved 91.2 per cent of its prorated revenue target, amounting to N46.9 billion, while 24.5 per cent of its prorated expenditure target of N75 billion had been achieved as of mid-year 2026.

He explained that the state’s consultative budgeting process, which initially covered the three senatorial districts before expanding to all geopolitical zones, had been institutionalised through feedback mechanisms, quarterly budget tracking and mandatory compliance by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

According to him, MDAs must demonstrate how they have addressed issues raised during stakeholders’ engagements before they can defend their budgets at the pre-treasury stage.

Babatunde called for the adoption of the Oyo State model at the federal level, arguing that reforms were necessary to improve budget performance across the country.

He said, “Nigeria needs to reset its budget system to have a performing budget.”

In his goodwill message, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, commended Makinde for institutionalising public consultation in the state’s budget process.

Ogundoyin said the people-centred approach had contributed to project execution across different parts of the state by allowing residents to communicate their needs and priorities to the government.

He noted that the administration had pursued investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and other critical sectors as part of its efforts to transform the state.

The Speaker added that the 10th Assembly would continue to scrutinise government policies and budget proposals, promote accountability and ensure responsible public spending.

He said the Assembly remained committed to working with the executive to ensure that the 2027 budget delivered tangible benefits to residents and supported sustainable development.

Ogundoyin assured stakeholders that the legislature would maintain effective oversight of public expenditure while ensuring transparency in the implementation of the budget.

Stakeholders seek attention to inner roads, insecurity

Meanwhile, representatives of local governments, the state’s advisory council, students, farmers, persons with disabilities, civil society organisations, religious groups, artisans and traders commended the state government for its interventions in different sectors.

The representative of chairmen of local governments in Ibadan Main City, Seun Onifade, and a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Chief Nureni Akanbi, praised the administration’s infrastructure projects but urged the governor to pay greater attention to the rehabilitation of inner roads and maintenance of existing facilities.

They also called for measures to address street begging and insecurity across the state.

Speaking on behalf of students, Mufutau Ademola thanked the governor for approving and paying bursaries since the beginning of his administration, describing the intervention as support for students’ welfare.

Similarly, Moses Fakunle, who represented farmers, commended the government’s tractorisation subsidy, saying the initiative had supported farmers’ access to mechanised agricultural services.

Representatives of persons with disabilities also appreciated the administration for establishing an office dedicated to their affairs and providing employment opportunities for members of the community in the state workforce.

Other groups that commended the government included representatives of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), religious leaders, civil society organisations, artisans, and market men and women.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Adenike Fashina; traditional rulers, labour leaders, youth groups, traders and other government officials.