The Ekiti State Government has advocated for efficiency in the allocation of resources in the state, News About Nigeria reports.
The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Folorunso Olabode, gave this charge while speaking during a ‘One-Day Workshop on the Preparation of the 2025–2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework’ for relevant officers of local governments and local council development areas on Monday in the State Capital.
He urged local council authorities to exercise fiscal discipline and allocate resources judiciously to improve conditions at the grassroots level.
He also urged local governments to prioritise the needs of their communities and agriculture in their 2025 budgets to address residents’ needs and ensure food security.
“The key is to ensure that the budget and the MTEF reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people. It is crucial to engage in participatory budgeting to understand what the people want in their local governments and local council development areas.
“I advise them to demonstrate fiscal discipline, adhere to the guidelines, and implement the MTEF and budget programmes effectively. This will help improve the lives of Ekiti State residents and make the government more responsive to their needs.
“It is imperative to address the issue of local government financial autonomy as it affects strategic planning, fiscal management, and resource allocation. We need to ensure that our resources are used efficiently and directed towards programmes that will have the greatest impact on our citizens’ lives.
“Through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the state government is collaborating with local governments and local council development areas on extensive land clearing across council areas for agricultural purposes.
“In accordance with the governor’s directive, we shall prioritise the construction of 5km roads across local governments and local council development areas. We have made substantial progress this year in planning, identifying roads, and securing consultancy services,” he stated.
