Ogun State government has successfully concluded the Town Hall meetings held in four major divisions—Remo, Ijebu, Yewa, and Egba (RIYE)- to seek the direct inputs of the relevant stakeholders into the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF).

The practice, which has become an annual ritual, aligns with the bottom-top approach to participatory governance, which is now an in-thing in the democratic world.

Participatory governance allows citizens to be involved in the decision-making processes of the state. As a departure from the past, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, introduced the idea into the developmental policies of his administration as a way to strengthen the relationship between citizens and the government.

Among other benefits, involving the people in the decision-making process increases meaningful engagement, thereby fostering a sense of ownership of the process. And so far, it has been a rewarding exercise both for the government and the people who are directly connected to the development at the grassroots level.

The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, stressing the significance of the Town hall Meeting, disclosed that 377 inputs were received during the last town hall meetings held in 2023 and that 90 percent of those inputs, representing 340 of the total contributions, were included in the year’s budget.

He also pledged that the remaining 40 inputs would be included in the 2025 budget and the MTEF. Olabimtan explained that projects were evenly implemented among the six local government areas in Ijebu Division, urging the people of the senatorial districts to submit their inputs toward the planning and eventual implementation of the budget.

The state government concluded the exercise which began on October 23, 2024 in Ijebu Division at the Ogun Central Senatorial District on Thursday amidst the stakeholders’ enthusiasm. Like the previous experience, it once again afforded the governor the opportunity to give an account of his stewardship, emphasizing that his administration had ensured even distribution of projects across the three senatorial districts. 

Abiodun categorically declared that no part of Ogun State had been left out of the developmental projects of his administration in the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2025 Budget. He emphasized that projects were evenly distributed among the three Senatorial Districts in accordance with the 2024 budget.

The Governor made this known during the town hall meeting on the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2025 Budget held at the Bisi Rodipe Event Centre, Ijebu-Ode. Abiodun, who commended all stakeholders for their inputs during consultations, further disclosed that his administration had approved the reconstruction of some major roads in the Ogun East Senatorial District. 

He said he had approved the reconstruction of Imoro-Imegun-Opopo road, Igbeba-Eid praying ground to Prison road, others in Ogun East.

Governor Abiodun, who was represented by the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, maintained that despite the fiscal pressures on its resources, the administration had also commenced the construction of over 64 kilometres of rural roads across the state.

The construction of the rural roads, Governor Abiodun said, marked pivotal steps in his administration’s ongoing commitment towards expanding infrastructural development for rural accessibility and boosting agricultural productivity in the state.

“In continuation of our infrastructural development, our administration recently approved the reconstruction of the Imoro-Imegun-Opopo road in Ijebu-North-East, Igbeba road to Eid praying ground to Prison, Imoru road in Ijebu-Ode, and Odelewu-Ladeshi-Ishiwo road.

“Despite the fiscal pressures and increased government spending, infrastructural investments to promote rural development and the economy have equally gained attention.

“Our administration is constructing 64 kilometres of rural roads in select local government areas in the state, including within the Ijebu division,” he said.

Governor Abiodun also disclosed that his administration, in collaboration with the Lagos and Oyo State Governments, had procured an additional 25 patrol vans and surveillance drones to monitor activities along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He added that the completion of the Gateway International Agro-cargo Airport, Ilishan, would position the state as the major logistics hub in the sub-region, while taking advantage of the Africa Quality Assurance Centre developed by the Africa Export-Import Bank.

So far, Prince Abiodun said that his administration had constructed over 600 kilometres of road across the state, with 243.3 kilometres completed in the Ogun East Senatorial District. of the completed roads listed included Chris-Ogunbanjo-Erunwon road, Palace road, Ijebu-Itele, Club road, Balogun Kuku road, Ijebu-Ode, and the reconstruction of internal roads within Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

He said that work had also commenced on the double self-culvert on Alaran River, Isiwo, Ijebu-Ode, Liberty road, Oru, and the Awokoya road in Ijebu-Ode.

The governor attributed the successful implementation of the 2024 budget to the prudent management of the state resources, blockage of leakages, as well as increase in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He stated this during the town hall meeting held at Ilaro on Tuesday by the Chief Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, Prince Abiodun noted that the 2024 budget had already achieved 80 percent implementation, ascribing the success to the various reforms embarked by the state government.

He said: “Putting the record straight, before our emergence in 2019, budget implementation was below 40 percent but the present administration has moved it up to an average of 75 percent.

“Implementation of the 2024 budget is 80 percent and that of last year was also 80 percent. We had put in place various mechanisms for the execution of the budget, and these mechanisms are in line with our pillars of development. We also put in place delivery mechanism and strategies to ensure the variant of most of the budget.

“Also, we have embarked upon a lot of reforms to block leakages, improve efficiency of service delivery. We also looked at other revenue areas; we have embarked on massive digitalization to enhance our revenue in those areas without necessarily overtaxing our people.”

He added that his administration leveraged the competitive and comparative advantages of the State and established few ministries and agencies that had helped in boosting the state revenue.

The Governor stressed that the introduction of Medium Revenue Strategies, Medium Term Expenditure Framework reforms in the payment for seamless operations to block leakages as well as regular meeting to monitor all reforms, were parts of measures aimed at improving the state’s revenue.

He disclosed that Ogun West Senatorial District had benefited from the over 600 kilometres of road constructed by his administration in the last five years. These include, among others, GRA road at Ota, Ilaro-Owode, Atan-Lusada-Agbara, and Oke-Irija-Ilobi. The Governor acknowledged Ogun West as the home of industries and food basket of the State.

He described the meeting as critical engagement aimed at providing opportunities for the people to press home their demands and aspirations as feedbacks are not only important to the MTEF, but also the 2025 budget.

It goes without saying that the combined effects of prudent management, blockage of leakages, and the enhanced capacity for Internally Generated Revenue have accounted for the resilience of the state economy amid the global challenges. Since he assumed office, he has demonstrated his innate capacity for creative thinking, leading to further boosting of the state’s internal revenue generation. As of today, Ogun is among the few states that can survive independently of the Federal Government.

In their separate remarks, the Gbegande of Ososa, Oba Toye Alatishe, and the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Rasaq Adenugba, commended the present administration for sustaining the town hall meeting, which has served as an avenue for the people to make their inputs into the budget, saying monarchs in the district would continue to support the vision and mission of the present administration in the state.

On his part, the Olu of Ilaro and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, represented by the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, called for the reconstruction of more roads in the area to improve the economic activities of the people.

In the same vein, representatives of different organisations and groups urged the government to consider more road construction in the senatorial district in the proposed budget.

Abiodun further affirmed the commitment of his administration to participatory governance and citizen’s engagement. He emphasized that his administration had always listened to the voices and concerns of its citizens in order to incorporate them into the 2025 budget.

The Governor, who was represented by his Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, at the town hall meeting, which took place at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, highlighted the importance of public participation in shaping the 2025-2027 MTEF and the 2025 budget.

“This final session is a culmination of our efforts to ensure that the voices of Ogun State residents are heard and reflected in our governance,” Abiodun stated. 

The governor noted that the meetings had provided opportunity for residents across the senatorial districts, including Ijebu, Remo, egba and Yewa, to engage directly with government officials, providing feedback on pressing local issues. He posited that the meeting in Egba Division had served as a vital opportunity for community leaders and citizens to discuss their specific needs and aspirations towards the development of the state.

Governor Abiodun reiterated his administration’s focus on infrastructure as a direct response to community feedback gathered during previous meetings.

“We understand that improved roads and essential services are crucial for economic growth and the well-being of our citizens,” highlighting significant projects in Egba Division, including ongoing constructions.

The governor assured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize safety through community policing initiatives. “We are dedicated to creating a safe environment where everyone can thrive,” he stated, reflecting the concerns raised by citizens throughout the Town Hall Meetings.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, applauded the Abiodun-led administration for its commendable work across the state. He urged the government not to relent, noting that there was still much to be done, particularly in the area of road infrastructure.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, commended the present administration for its inclusiveness and forthrightness in ensuring that development in different sectors of the economy cuts across all the regions of the state.

Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital