Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has voiced his satisfaction with the continuous improvement in the state’s budget performance.
He called it a testament to his administration’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and prudent resource management.
The governor made the comments yesterday during the Treasury Board Meeting on the Proposed 2026 Budget, which involved senior government officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House.
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He commended the MDA heads for effectively executing government policies, which have led to better budget outcomes across key sectors.
Oyebanji, however, issued a directive for all MDAs to establish internal budget implementation teams.
He explained that these teams are necessary to ensure the seamless execution and alignment of approved projects and programs with the 2026 budget, thereby strengthening internal monitoring and enhancing performance tracking.
“MDAs should set up a ministerial implementation team that will ensure that all programmes are in alignment with the budget,” he advised.
Emphasising his administration’s focus on value for money and result-oriented budgeting, the governor urged state officials to eliminate waste and ensure that all expenditures directly benefit the people of Ekiti.
Looking ahead, Oyebanji stated that the 2026 budget will prioritise the completion of all ongoing infrastructure projects throughout the various communities, expressing confidence that the budget will drive unprecedented growth.
He noted his particular delight with the state’s success in the agriculture sector, where significant investment has helped create 5,000 jobs for youths in one year, contributing to efforts in addressing unemployment and food security.
Earlier, Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo praised the efficiency of the state’s budget planning, crediting the adoption of zero-based budgeting and the medium-term expenditure framework (2026-2028).
He also urged collective ownership of the budget document for successful implementation.
Olusola Akinluyi, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, provided an overview of the proposed 2026 expenditure, noting the state’s budget performance in 2023, 2024, and 2025 has shown a “progression of systemic growth.”
He further disclosed that the state has not taken any loans since the current administration began.
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The proposed total expenditure for the 2026 budget is estimated at N415 billion, with N252 billion allocated to recurrent expenditure.
Dignitaries present at the meeting included the Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, and the Head of Service, Folakemi Olomojobi, among others.
