Makinde vows to keep citizens’ needs central in Oyo’s budget

By Adejayan Gbenga –

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, assuring that citizens’ needs will continue to guide the preparation of the state’s annual budget.

Makinde made this known on Thursday during the Stakeholders’ Consultative and Engagement Meeting on the 2026 Budget, held at the Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. He said the engagement was introduced in 2019 to allow residents to participate in shaping government priorities.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said his administration has achieved better budget performance by separating the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning from the Ministry of Finance for greater efficiency and accountability.

Makinde said his government would continue to adopt a bottom-up approach to development, noting that projects such as the Moniya–Iseyin, Iseyin–Ogbomoso, and Oyo–Iseyin roads have opened up rural communities and reduced rural-urban migration.

He assured that the 2026 budget would capture the full implementation of the ₦32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, while also providing social safety nets for women and vulnerable residents across the state.

The governor also revealed plans to reform two technical colleges to train artisans and youths, saying the government’s priority is to create strong institutions that will sustain progress beyond his tenure.

Speaking on the 2027 elections, Makinde said the people of Oyo State would not be swayed by slogans but by performance, adding that any successor his team presents would have been carefully evaluated. “Ultimately, the people of Oyo State will decide who continues the roadmap for sustainable development,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, and representatives of UNICEF, the DAWN Commission, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) commended the governor for promoting inclusive governance and transparency, describing Oyo as a model for accountable leadership in Nigeria.