The Ogun State House of Assembly has called on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of public funds, with the aim of maximising the value of government resources.
This call was made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Musefiu Lamidi, during the commencement of the 2025 budget defence at the Assembly Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Monday.
Lamidi described the budget defence as a pivotal aspect of the governance process, emphasising that the purpose of the exercise goes beyond merely discussing financial figures. The committee’s focus, he stated, is to assess how proposed programs and projects by MDAs will positively impact the people of Ogun State.
“We are here to ensure that the resources allocated translate into meaningful, measurable, and sustainable benefits for our citizens,” Lamidi said. He urged representatives from the Ministries to provide clear, detailed, and factual insights into their proposed budgets, highlight progress made in the past year, and outline plans for the upcoming year.
He reassured that the Assembly would carry out the exercise with fairness, professionalism, and adherence to good governance principles. “This process is about more than just numbers it is about making sure our people see tangible outcomes from the government’s budget,” Lamidi added.
The budget defence began with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, an essential agency in advancing the welfare and protection of vulnerable groups in the state. Lamidi highlighted the importance of the ministry’s role in promoting inclusive growth and ensuring that no one is left behind in Ogun State’s development.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, presented her ministry’s budget, revealing that N1.050 billion had been earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N468.4 million was allocated for capital expenditure. She confirmed that the ministry’s total expenditure for the next fiscal year would amount to N1.5 billion, with a focus on gender-responsive investments for the empowerment of all citizens.
Lamidi also stressed the importance of having all Commissioners and Heads of MDAs physically present during their budget defences to ensure alignment with the state’s development goals.
