Kwara State Government has commenced deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget estimates submitted by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), with a strong emphasis on fiscal discipline, prudent resource allocation and prioritising the completion of ongoing projects and programmes.

This was made known by the State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Ronke Arinde, on Thursday during the deliberations by the Central Budget Committee on the proposed 2027 Budget Estimates in Ilorin.

Arinde described the exercise as a critical stage in the state's annual budget preparation process, explaining that it provides an opportunity to scrutinise proposals from MDAs, assess their alignment with the development priorities of the state and ensure the efficient allocation of available resources to achieve meaningful results.

She emphasised the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, prudence and strict adherence to government priorities, noting that the competing demands on limited financial resources require that every proposed expenditure be justified, realistic, affordable and capable of delivering measurable benefits to all the citizenry.

The Commissioner urged MDAs to establish a clear connection between their proposed expenditures, approved sectoral priorities and the development objectives of the state government, stressing the need to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects and existing commitments rather than introducing new projects that could place additional pressure on the state's limited financial resources.

According to her, “the focus of the proposed 2027 budget should be on consolidating the administration's achievements, completing critical infrastructure and ensuring that ongoing programmes deliver their intended outcomes.”

She charged members of the Central Budget Committee to scrutinise the estimates presented by the various MDAs objectively and professionally, with particular attention to personnel, overhead and capital expenditures.

According to her, this is to ensure that they are necessary, properly costed, affordable and consistent with the state's fiscal realities. She called for strict adherence to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, sectoral priorities and relevant government policies, stressing that all budget proposals must be supported by appropriate justifications, clearly defined objectives, expected outputs and measurable outcomes.

The Commissioner affirmed that the budget serves as a strategic instrument for implementing government policies, promoting economic development, improving public service delivery and enhancing the welfare of citizens, charging Committee members to ensure that the deliberations are conducted within approved guidelines and timelines.

While thanking the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for approving the exercise, Arinde called on representatives of MDAs to cooperate fully with the Committee by providing accurate information, relevant supporting documents and satisfactory explanations to facilitate informed decisions and the preparation of a credible, realistic and implementable 2027 Budget.

The Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, commended members of the State Central Budget Committee for their active participation and commitment to a thorough and realistic review of the proposed 2027 Budget Estimates.

Olukoju acknowledged the importance of the Committee's role in ensuring that budget proposals are carefully examined and aligned with the state's development priorities.