Osun 2020 Budget: Bilateral Discussion Begins, To Focus On Revenue Generation

By Kingsley Omoyeni

As the bilateral discussion on the 2020 budget of Osun begins, the budget implementation committee for the bilateral discussion on the estimate have been advised to focus more on revenue generation instead of expenditure so as to come up with a realistic budget estimate for the state.

Supervisor for Economic Planning, Budget and Development who is the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Olalekan Yinusa gave the charge at a meeting of the budget implementation committee held shortly before the commencement of the year 2020 budget bilateral discussion.

Speaking further at the meeting, the Commissioner designate stressed that without revenue, nothing can be achieved, hence the need to consider revenue generation in the process of formulating the 2020 budget.

While calling on the committee to ensure blocking of leakages in the budget, the Supervisor described the bilateral discussion as a very important process because it is an avenue to interact with ministries, departments and agencies of government to know what is doable.

He called on the committee to work assiduously for the state to be able to come up with a budget estimate that will be in line with the policy thrust of the current administration to be able to satisfy the needs of the people.

Prof. Yinusa explained that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola at the inception of his administration went round the nine federal constituencies on a thank you visit purposely to be able to access the critical needs of the people as part of his commitment to run and inclusive and participatory governance in the state.

The economic expert also informed the committee that the the Governor of the state is interested in a budget that will support job creation and boost the economy of the state through revenue.

He said, “the budget of the state should actually evolve from the plan of the government which is brought out of overall plan for the state, we want to prepare a budget that will be in line with the policy thrust of the government.

“we want a budget that will be able to focus on revenue generation more than expenditure, this is because of the money don’t come in there is no way we can get money to spend to achieve what government want for the people.

” we need to use our time effectively by spending more of our time on revenue generation”. He stated.

Other members of the budget implementation committee include: the Supervisor, Ministry of Finance, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Mr Leye Aina, his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Adebimpe Ogunlumade, the State Accountant General, Mr Sunday Igbaroola, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Kunle Akinola, the Director General, Debt Management Office, Mr Tunde Adejumo, Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr Gbite Ademikanra.

Others are, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Finance, Dr Wale Tijani, Technical Assistant to the Governor on TSA, Mr Adetona Adefokun among others.

Day one of the bilateral discussions featured the Agriculture, Environment, Commerce and Industry sectors. Day two which comes up on Wednesday will feature the Education sector.