Joseph EMERIBE
The Kwara State government through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development organised a Town Hall Meeting on citizens’ engagement in the budget process for the 2023 budget preparation, held at Ilorin west local government secretariat, Wara, Ilorin.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State who was ably represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor- Mr. Kayode Alabi, ceased the opportunity to restate the administrations resolve aimed at promoting an all inclusive government where transparency, accountability and efficiency is encouraged for a better Kwara.
“we have started another round of citizens engagement of the 2023 Budget for the people of Kwara Central to have their input in every budget cycle shows inclusion at adequate representation and participation of every citizen in the budget preparation process in Kwara State. These bills have become the core of financial spendings of this administration”, he said.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Kwara State Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Yaqub Umar Jaja, said that the essence of the meeting was to increase openness, transparency and citizens’ engagement in the budget process.
In his presentation, the state director for budget and planning at the ministry, Alh. Shamsideen Aregbe praised the government for performing greatly stressing that the government executed over five hundred projects in kwara central senatorial district alone in the fiscal year under review.
Participants at the occasion despite the rains turned out in their numbers to add their input for a better 2023 budget. According to them, the Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq led government is doing well with regards to the judicious utilisation of the state funds but prayed for more.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication, Mr. Abdulrahman Akindele Ayuba in his reaction drew the attention of the state government to the collapsed Ohan Bridge and the need to invest more for a stronger security infrastructure in the state
In his words: “We wish the kwara State government listen more to the people at the grassroot as the process needs to be more robust than this. There should be some robust engagement before we scale it up to this level just yesterday on my way from Kaiama we spent close to four hours at Ohan Bridge”.
Mrs. Christy Abayomi in her addition appealed to the state government to revive the school feeding programme and also work more to encourage rural farmers in the state to do more for food sufficiency in the state.
Meanwhile, a similar Town Hall Meeting for Kwara North will be held at Edu Local Government Secretariat, Lafiaji on the 7th of July; while that of Kwara South will take place at Share in Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat on the 14th of July 2022.
The event was graced by top government functionaries, politicians and traditional rulers within Kwara Central Senatorial District.