IN an annual practice, the council Leadership in the Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA assembled for a 3-day Budget Retreat at the Continental Suites Hotel, Abeokuta, Ogun State, between Wednesday, November 13 and Friday, November 15, 2024, to critically assess the Year 2025 fiscal year budgetary allocation.
The Council Chairman, Hon. David Famuyiwa, who declared open the retreat, appreciated everyone for the support accorded him since his assumption of office. He said the retreat will afford the participants’ as representatives of the people, to critically examine all departmental budgetary provisions and requests submitted by various stakeholders during the recently held stakeholders' forum, to achieve a workable and achievable budget outlook that will meet the expectations and hope of the people of the LCDA.
He mentioned that the Year 2025 Budget was deliberately tagged "Budget of Renewed Hope” to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and the T.H.E.M.E.S. PLUS Agenda of the Lagos State Government. He went further to identify sectors that will be given priority attention in the Year 2025 and the general interest of the populace, including -
(i) Infrastructure- upgrading and rehabilitation of many access roads
(ii) Health Care- improving health care services and infrastructure
(iii) Education- enhancing educational facilities and resources
(iv) Poverty Alleviation- empowering the most vulnerable in the various communities, through the provision of cash palliatives and skills acquisition and development.
(v) Security- ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
He concluded by admonishing participants to take cognisance of the importance of focus, vision, commitment, collaboration, transparency, accountability, and effective communication in the budget planning process of the Council as poor Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will no longer be encouraged and tolerated. Therefore, "all hands must be on deck in 2025 to ensure that revenue target is achieved and even surpassed for the common benefit of our people".
During the 3-day retreat, an annual procurement clinic themed "The Impact of Adopting the New Procurement Process on Development of the Council” was facilitated by Mr Rogesin Oludayo, who analysed the various indices on which the Year 2025 Budget should be based. He also emphasised the need to properly equip the Procurement Office in order to facilitate proper delivery of the Procurement Officer's job responsibilities.
Exclusive deliberations were held between the Executive and Management Team on the efficient generation and allocation of funds for the 2025 Fiscal Year and it can only be hoped that this will ensure fiscal sustainability towards achieving a better and greater Agbado Oke-Odo in the Year 2025.
