Oyo Assembly begins 2027 budget defence for 33 LGs

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State House of Assembly has commenced the 2027 budget defence exercise for the state’s 33 local government areas ahead of the next fiscal year.

The exercise is aimed at scrutinising the councils’ proposed budget estimates to ensure transparency, accountability and effective utilisation of public funds for grassroots development.

Speaking at the opening session, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours, Akintunde Olajide, urged council chairmen and their management teams to approach the exercise as a statutory responsibility rather than a witch-hunt.

He stressed that the primary objective was to ensure that the dividends of democracy reached residents at the grassroots. Olajide described the exercise as another milestone in the commitment of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly to fulfilling its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

According to him, the exercise is in line with the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and Section 19(2) of the Oyo State Local Government Law, 2001, as amended.

He explained that the provisions empower the Assembly to approve funds for local government projects, including the construction and maintenance of roads, street lighting, drains, public highways, parks, gardens and other public facilities. He also urged council chairmen to clearly outline their budget items and allocations to facilitate effective legislative scrutiny and promote development across their respective councils.

Also speaking, the Leader of the House, Sanjo Onaolapo, who represents Ogbomoso South State Constituency, said the exercise was designed to promote fiscal responsibility and ensure that local government activities complied with relevant laws. Similarly, the Clerk of the House, Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, represented by the Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Research and Budget, Aderonke Ogundeji, said the exercise would enable proper examination of the councils’ estimates before the new fiscal year.

The opening session featured Ogo-Oluwa, Afijio and Ibadan South-East Local Government Areas, whose delegations were led by their respective council chairmen.