Osun Begins Activation Of 10 Year Development Plan In 2019

 

• Consults Stakeholders For Budget Preparation

By Kehinde Ayantunji

Osun State government has set to embark on a-10 year development plan and would commence it in 2019 budget of the State.

This disclosure was made during a day validation meeting of the state development plan(2019-2028) and year 2019 budget consultation forum in Ilesa, Osun State on Tuesday.

Osun state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Dr. Olalekan Yinusa also vowed to make development plan to be citizens inclusive.

Dr. Yinusa explained that, “Budget 2019 is about to commence and circular has been issued to Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), while citizens of Osun are to add what should be given priority in its preparation.

Giving facts backing the 10 years development plan template, he said, “stakeholders was invited to  Iloko Ijesa where development partners like UNDP, EU, DFID,UNICEF, civil societies, market men and women leadership, labour union leadership, media and others were brought together in order to create a vision and mission for the state by identifying people’s priorities in planning.

He said, “The State development plan will be a public document and outlines the State’s overarching policy direction and outcomes of the programs, project and activities to be implemented by subsequent administrations in the State to ensure enduring legacies and sustainable economic development.

“ The year 2019 budgeting process has commenced in earnest and in a bid to formulate a citizen’s based, all inclusive and bottom-up budget that captures the needs of the citizens of the State, it is important to harvest ideas from various stakeholders across State”.

He also charged Osun citizens to start monitoring all project of the government starting from 2019 and alert them if any foul play were noticed during the execution of those projects.

“One of the reasons for this plan for Osun citizens is to make sure they have sense of belonging in budget and execution.

In his contribution, the coordinator of EU sponsored State, Local Government Reform Project (SLOGOR), Mr. Yemi Ijidele lauded the State Commissioner for Economic Planning in making the Ministry to comply with the recent global practice of budget planning and implementation in which people are involved in preparation.

He said, there is linkage between budget and people which has made efficiency possible.

He added that the international community expected Government to be accountable and transparent. Thus, he lauded Osun State for joining the comity of States in Nigeria that has started citizens budget rather than Government budget in an inclusive budgeting.

Director Planning for Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Mrs. Yetunde Esan during the presentation of the template of the plan relayed the importance of development plan designed by the ministry.