By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has expressed satisfaction with the steady improvement in the State’s budget performance, describing it as a reflection of his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of resources.
The governor stated this during the Treasury Board Meeting involving senior government officials across MDAs and extra-Ministerial Departments on the Proposed 2026 Budget, held at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House in Ado Ekiti.
He commended the heads of MDAs for ensuring effective implementation of government policies and programmes, which, according to the governor, has resulted in improved budget outcomes across various sectors.
Oyebanji, however, charged all MDAs to set up internal implementation teams to ensure seamless execution of approved projects and programmes in alignment with the 2026 budget.
He explained that such team would help strengthen internal monitoring, enhance performance tracking and promote greater coordination among departments.
The governor said “ I also want to advise that as we have the budget implementation team at the state level, it wouldn’t be too much for MDAs too to have a small team to watch over your budget. MDAs should set up ministerial implementation team that will ensure that all programmes are in alignment with budget”.
Emphasising that his administration places high premium on value for money and result-oriented budgeting, the Governor urged the state officials to avoid waste and ensure that every expenditure directly benefit Ekiti people.
While expressing satisfaction with his administration’s achievements in agriculture sector, the Governor said he was deliberate in investing hugely in the sector to address unemployment and food security.
Speaking further, Oyebanji said the 2026 budget will focus primarily on completion of all ongoing infrastructure projects across the various communities.
He also expressed optimism that the 2026 budget would further bring unprecedented growth and development to the state.
“We are not doing badly at all with our budget, we must understand our nature as a people, understand our limitations and our own challenges.
“It is good to benchmark our self with states that are doing well but we are not in the same class, within our frame, where God has created us, we are trying our best and I must commend all of you.
“I am so happy with our achievement in the agric sector, that in one year we can create 5,000 jobs for our youth and they are there, they have not left and more people are clamouring to join them”, the governor stated.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, who acknowledged the consistent efficiency of the budget planning process in the state, attributed it to the adoption of zero-based budgeting and a medium-term expenditure framework spanning 2026 to 2028.
He expressed appreciation to the accounting officers and other government officials who have adopted and implemented new frameworks and budgeting techniques aimed at improving fiscal discipline and credibility.
Commending the state government commitment to timely budget preparation and adherence to global best practices, Adebayo stressed the importance of collective ownership of the budget document to ensure its successful passage, acceptance, and implementation across key sectors, particularly infrastructure and social services, urging all participants to carry the same level of dedication into the public execution phase of the budget.
Presenting the overview of the proposed 2026 expenditure estimate, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Olusola Akinluyi, commended the Governor for his visionary leadership and commitment to fiscal responsibility.
He explained that the state budget performance in 2023, 2024 and 2025 had been a progression of systemic growth.
While maintaining that government had not taken any loan since the inception of the current administration, the Permanent Secretary noted that the projection for the 2026 budget has been put at N415 billion with the recurrent expenditure of N252 billion.
Present at the event were, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi, Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, members of the State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, top Government Officials, among others.