The Ogun State House of Assembly has called on Ministries, Departments, and government agencies to embrace transparency and accountability in allocating and utilising public funds to maximise the value of government resources.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Musefiu Lamidi, made this call during the commencement of the 2025 budget defence held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Monday.
Lamidi described the budget defence as a significant event in the governance process, emphasising that the focus of the exercise is not merely to discuss figures but to assess the impact of the proposed programmes and projects of MDAs on the people of the state.
“We are here to ensure that the resources allocated translate into meaningful, measurable, and sustainable benefits for our citizens.
“I therefore encourage the Ministry’s representatives to provide clear, detailed, and factual insights into their proposed budget, highlight the progress made in the past year, and articulate plans for the year ahead,” he said.
He added that the assembly remains committed to supporting initiatives aligned with the collective goal of enhancing the quality of life for the people.
The lawmaker assured that the exercise would be conducted with utmost fairness, professionalism, and dedication to the principles of good governance.
“Today, we begin this exercise with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, a key institution in advancing the welfare, empowerment, and protection of the vulnerable segments of our population.
“This ministry plays a critical role in fostering inclusive growth and ensuring that no one is left behind in our shared vision for Ogun State,” he stated.
He also stressed the need for all Commissioners and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to be physically present during their budget defence to remain in tune with the vision and mission of the appropriation bill.
Taking turns to defend the budget for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Commissioner in charge, Adijat Adeleye, said that N1.050bn had been earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N468.4m was allocated for capital expenditure.
She explained that the total expenditure for the next fiscal year stood at N1.5bn, assuring that the ministry would continue to invest in women, men, young, and old in a gender-responsive manner through participatory approaches for sustainable development.
