By John Odunayo
Ekiti State Government has resolved to ensure fiscal discipline in the resource allocation at the local government level in a manner that is strategic and effective.
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon Folorunso Olabode, gave the resolve at the end of a day workshop on the preparation of 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for LG Chairmen and other relevant stakeholders in the Local Governments at Lady Jibowu Hall Ado Ekiti.
Papers presented at the workshop which Olabode declared open earlier included Fostering Sustainable Development at the LG through Sound Budgeting System: and State Development Plan (SDP,) 2021-2025 a Veritable Tool for Proper Planning and Preparation of MTEF at LGs.
In the communique at the end of the workshop, the state holders resolved as part of efforts to guide the budget preparation and implementation at the LGs/LCDAs that MTEF document should strictly be the fulcrum for the budget preparation.
They also resolved that the Directors of Finance and Directors of Budget and Planning should work hand-in-hand to ensure that budgetary provisions guide the spendings in the LGAs/LCDAs to guide against extra-budgetary spending.
They also resolved that necessary working tools like laptops, printers and others should be provided centrally.
Others included release of reasonable fund for budget preparation, considering the present economic realities and that the amounts approved should be daily released to the DPR&S Department for the preparation of the budget.
In order to bridge the knowledge and skill gaps in Budgeting, the capacity of officers in the DPR&S Department should be enhanced for better productivity and efficient service delivery.
Also, four agencies – Local Government Service Commission, Loan Board, Training School and PTAD should be included in the Budget support fund.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee and Chairman, Ajoni LCDA, Hon Michael Ogungbemi, described workshop as opportunity to share from various wealth of experiences of the versatile resource persons.
Ogungbemi, on behalf of other participants, appreciated the state government and MLGA for such the workshop which he described as laudable and commendable.
Other stakeholders at the Workshop opening ceremony included AG/PS, PS Ministry of Budget, PS LGSC, PS LGSC, PS PTAD, PS Loan Board and relevant directors in the LG/LCDAs.
