Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday, assured that the state’s 2027 budget will align with the needs of the masses to drive growth and development across the state.
The governor spoke at a stakeholders’ engagement tour in Ekiti North Senatorial District to kick start preparations for the 2027 budget.
He stressed that the meeting is in continuation of his administration’s wider engagement with the people at the grassroots adding that the 2027 budget will be prioritised based on available resources.
He said: “We have to prioritise based on available resources. The beauty of this yearly program is that it allows us to plan together, realign our own vision with your own expectations so that as government is doing its own, we are also touching the needs of the communities.
“Let me assure you that we have the statewide requests already and out of shared respect for you, I don’t want to sit in the office and deal with it. This is what we are going to use in crafting the 2027 budget.
“Governance and government itself is about three things – the people, the people and the people and that has been the focus of our administration. There is nothing we have done in the last three close to four years that have not emanated from the people, either through conversations like this, or through other fora where we meet the people.”
While calling on the stakeholders for sustained collaboration, he emphasised that the needs of the various communities across the state are the same assuring that his administration will continue in its resolve to meet the yearnings of the people.
“Whatever they tell us to do, we ensure that it is done because we are what we are today by the Grace of God through you. If it is convenient for me to come and ask for your votes and you voted, it shouldn’t be inconvenient for me to come and ask you what do you want me to do for you.
“I have listened to all the issues raised from Oye to Ikole, Moba, Ilejemeje and Ido-Osi, and in fairness, the needs of our people across the state are all the same. In the last close to four years, you have seen what we have done and we will continue to hand-hold eachother.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Femi Ajayi, noted that the citizens’ engagement is geared towards ensuring that the 2027 budget reflects the realities, needs and aspirations of the people.
He assured that the Ministry will ensure that the issues will be properly documented for the 2027 budget and prioritisation will be essential owing to limited resources adding that the engagement remains a cardinal program of the Oyebanji’s administration.
Highlights of the engagement is the presentation of requests from the local governments in Ekiti North Senatorial District by their representatives ranging from accessible township roads, electricity, water supply, health, local community development, among others.
