Kwara committed to people-focused budgeting, good governance– Gov.AbdulRazaq
Budget
By Toba Ajayi
Osi (Kwara), Sept. 1, 2026 (NAN) Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to people-focused budgeting and good governance to ensure that no community was left behind in the state’s development.
AbdulRazaq said that the people had a right to good governance, adding that his administration would continue to invest in programmes and projects designed to improve the lives of citizens across the state.
The governor stated this in Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area, during a citizens’ engagement for the 2027 Budget Preparation Process, organised by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
AbdulRazaq, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr Mary Arinde, said that any fiscal plan designed to deliver meaningful impact must reflect the experiences, priorities and aspirations of citizens.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s Press Secretary, Mr Tayo Falade, quoted the governor as assuring peope in the area that every contribution made during the engagement would receive due consideration.
“When we came in 2019, we made a promise that our government would be open, transparent and people-centred.
“Today’s citizens’ engagement is one more proof of that promise. A budget is not just figures on paper but a reflection of our collective priorities, our hopes and our plan to make life better for every Kwaran,” he said.
AbdulRazaq said the state had witnessed remarkable infrastructure renewal under his administration, with hundreds of kilometres of urban and rural roads constructed or rehabilitated.
He listed other areas of intervention to include education, healthcare and social safety nets.
“Our urban renewal initiatives have transformed the landscape of Ilorin and other major towns.
“Landmark projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of township roads, Kwara Hotels, Innovation Hub, Civil Service Clinic, International Conference Centre, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service office, Finance House and other strategic road networks, have improved traffic flow, enhanced safety and boosted commercial activities,” AbdulRazaq said.
The governor said that his administration had also invested heavily in education, noting that hundreds of public schools had been renovated, remodelled or newly constructed.
He added that modern teaching methods had been introduced through digital technology, while thousands of teachers had received training to improve learning outcomes.
AbdulRazaq also highlighted the administration’s support for security agencies through the provision of logistics, operational vehicles, communication equipment and other critical resources to strengthen the security of lives and property across the state.
Speaking on the essence of the engagement, Arinde said the initiative demonstrated the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and inclusive governance.
Arinde, whose address was delivered by the ministry’s Director of Personnel, Finance and Supply, Mrs Medinat Ajao, said the government had institutionalised participatory budgeting since assuming office.
She said the approach was designed to ensure that citizens’ voices remained central to the state’s planning and resource allocation.
“As we commence the formulation of the 2027 Budget, this forum is designed to achieve the bottom-up priority goal by hearing directly from grassroots communities, trade groups, youths, women and civil society organisations regarding the specific infrastructure, social services and economic interventions most needed in their localities,” she said.
The engagement was attended by the Kwara House of Assembly member representing Oke-Ero Constituency, Hon. Kuti Bamigboye; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Afolashade Opeyemi; and Chairmen of Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Offa, Oyun, Irepodun, Isin and Ifelodun Local Government Areas.
Also in attendance were the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu; Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Raheem Adeoti; Olosi of Osi, Oba Saliu Abdulkareem Adasofegbe Arowobeku I; Head of Osi Campus of Kwara State University (KWASU), Prof. Binta Ajibola Sulyman; religious leaders and civil society groups, among others.
The participating council chairmen took turns to highlight the achievements of the administration in their domains, commending the governor for his leadership and appealing for consideration of additional infrastructure projects in the 2027 budget.
The Olupo of Ajase-Ipo commended AbdulRazaq for his transformation agenda and impact across communities, praying for continued success for the administration.
He, however, joined other stakeholders in calling for intensified efforts to rehabilitate some federal roads in Kwara South, which he described as being in deplorable condition.
Alebiosu urged the state government to intervene in the rehabilitation of the roads, by carrying out palliative work on them.
According to him, this will ease the difficulties faced by residents who commute daily on the roads.
Similarly, the Chairman of Offa Descendants Union (OSU), Chief Tajudeen Shitu, commended AbdulRazaq for responding to most of the infrastructural needs of Offa, particularly the Eiyenkonrin-Offa-Eruku road network.
In separate remarks, Mr Aina Felix from Ekiti and Hon. Taiye Ogunniyi from Oke-Ero identified the poor condition of roads in their communities as a major factor contributing to security challenges.
They appealed to the government to assist in rehabilitating the roads.
Mr Samsudeen Aregbe, Director of Budget, said in his presentation that the state achieved 93.5 per cent budget performance in 2025.
He said that the performance reflected the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare and living conditions of residents of the state.
(NAN)
LEX/AOS
Edited by Bayo Sekoni
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