Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said the next administration will need prudent financial managers to maintain existing infrastructure and sustain his government’s reforms.
Makinde spoke on Friday during the stakeholders’ consultative engagement on the 2027 budget at Olola Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The governor said his administration would be able to implement no more than 30 per cent of the 2027 budget before handing over to a new government on May 29, 2027.
Speaking on the state’s future leadership needs, Makinde argued that the next phase of development would require stronger emphasis on financial management rather than more engineers.
He said his administration had delivered infrastructure designed to last, citing the 65-kilometre Moniya–Iseyin Road, which he described as retaining about 90 per cent of its condition seven years after construction.
Makinde also defended the scrapping of the state’s loss-making tractor unit and the decision to place tractor services in private hands. According to him, the arrangement has expanded farmers’ access to mechanised farming while reducing the financial burden on government.
On revenue, the governor alleged that each state was entitled to a ₦250 billion refund linked to Nigeria LNG dividends, but that payment had been delayed until after the 2027 elections.
He further said budget implementation had improved under his administration, noting that projects included in the state’s budgets over the past seven years had a 70 per cent chance of execution.
In his presentation, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, said budget performance had risen from 30 per cent in 2019 to more than 70 per cent.
Babatunde said that by mid-year 2026, the state had achieved 91.2 per cent of its prorated revenue target of ₦46.9 billion and 24.5 per cent of its prorated expenditure target of ₦75 billion.
He explained that ministries, departments and agencies must demonstrate how they had addressed concerns raised during stakeholder consultations before defending their proposals at the pre-treasury stage.
The SSG urged the Federal Government to adopt Oyo’s approach, saying the country needed to reform its budgeting system.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Abayomi Ojo, called for realistic revenue projections and prudent expenditure in the 2027 budget. He also sought adequate provision for nutrition, early childhood development and climate change.
The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, commended the administration for making public consultation part of the budget process and pledged sustained legislative oversight.
Representatives of community and professional groups acknowledged government interventions but also highlighted areas requiring attention.
The representative of Ibadan Main City local governments, Seun Onifade, and a member of the state Advisory Council, Chief Nureni Akanbi, called for improvements to inner roads and better maintenance of existing facilities. They also raised concerns about street begging and insecurity.
Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal and Head of Service Adenike Fashina were among those present.
