The Ekiti State Government has called on local council authorities to exercise fiscal discipline and allocate resources judiciously to improve conditions at the grassroots level.
The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Folorunso Olabode, urged local governments to prioritise the needs of their communities and agriculture in their 2025 budgets to address residents’ needs and ensure food security.
Olabode issued this directive in Ado Ekiti on Monday during a ‘One-Day Workshop on the Preparation of the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework’ for relevant officers of local governments and local council development areas.
The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in collaboration with the Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management departments, aimed to educate council officials on setting up the MTEF framework—a three-year rolling plan aligning budgeting processes with developmental goals to ensure sustainable growth.
The commissioner stated, “It is imperative to address the issue of local government financial autonomy as it affects strategic planning, fiscal management, and resource allocation. We need to ensure that our resources are used efficiently and directed towards programmes that will have the greatest impact on our citizens’ lives.”
Olabode noted that although Governor Biodun Oyebanji had honoured his pledge not to interfere with council funds, the governor remains committed to prioritising grassroots development.
He emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement, saying, “We must involve all relevant stakeholders in this process, particularly in preparing our 2025 budget, which stems from the MTEF. We need to listen to our communities and incorporate their feedback into our plans to ensure our initiatives meet their needs and aspirations.”
The commissioner also urged local governments and local council development areas to prioritise agriculture and the empowerment of local farmers in their 2025 budgets to enhance food production in the communities.
He added, “Through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the state government is collaborating with local governments and local council development areas on extensive land clearing across council areas for agricultural purposes.
“In accordance with the governor’s directive, we shall prioritise the construction of 5km roads across local governments and local council development areas. We have made substantial progress this year in planning, identifying roads, and securing consultancy services.”
The Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Niyi Adebayo, stated that the workshop aimed to teach local government officials about fiscal discipline and how to use the MTEF effectively.
Adebayo remarked, “The key is to ensure that the budget and the MTEF reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people. It is crucial to engage in participatory budgeting to understand what the people want in their local governments and local council development areas.
“I advise them to demonstrate fiscal discipline, adhere to the guidelines, and implement the MTEF and budget programmes effectively. This will help improve the lives of Ekiti State residents and make the government more responsive to their needs,” he said.
Maryam Ogunlade, Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Local Governments, urged those involved in preparing the 2025 budget to follow the necessary steps to achieve the desired outcomes.
Ogunlade explained that adhering to the MTEF would enhance the achievement of strategic goals, “including poverty reduction, increased employment, and investment. Proper implementation will lower economic activity costs and improve citizens’ safety and security.
“MTEF provides the government with a tool to balance compelling policy priorities with budget realities. This will help reprioritise expenditure and make informed policy choices that are affordable in the medium term, ensuring the well-being of our people at the grassroots,” she added.
