Ekiti State Government has called on local council authorities to exercise fiscal discipline

and allocate resources judiciously to improve conditions at the grassroots level.

The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Folorunso Olabode, urged local

governments to prioritise the needs of their communities and agriculture in their 2025

budgets to address residents’ needs and ensure food security. Olabode issued this

directive in Ado Ekiti on Monday 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.

The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in collaboration with

the Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management departments, aimed to

educate council officials on setting up the MTEF framework—a three-year rolling plan

aligning budgeting processes with developmental goals to ensure sustainable growth.

The commissioner stated that 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. The commissioner

also urged local governments and local council development areas to prioritise agriculture

and the empowerment of local farmers in their 2025 budgets to enhance food production in

the communities. Olabode noted that although Governor Biodun Oyebanji had honoured

his pledge not to interfere with council funds, the governor remains committed to prioritising

grassroots development.

Maryam Ogunlade, Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Local

Governments, urged those involved in preparing the 2025 budget to follow the necessary

steps to achieve the desired outcomes. Ogunlade explained that adhering to the MTEF

would enhance the achievement of strategic goals, “including poverty reduction, increased

employment, and investment. Proper implementation will lower economic activity costs and

improve citizens’ safety and security.

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