Sanwo-Olu tasks commissioners on prudence, implementable budget

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Friday urged Commissioners for Economic Planning and Budget across the 36 states draw up budgetary processes that are real and implementable.

Sanwo-Olu gave the advice while declaring open the 15th Community of Practice meeting, a gathering of all the Commissioners for Budget and Economic Planning of the 36 states of the federation.

L-R: Taraba State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Solomon Elisha; Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Lagos Commissioner of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Sam Egube, during the opening of the 15th Community of Practice Meeting (All Honourable Commissioners of Budget and Economic Planning of the 36 States of the federation) themed: “Human Capital Development: A Panacea For Sustainable Development” at Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022.

The theme of the meeting is ”Human Capital Development: A Panacea for Sustainable Development”.

He urged them to put in place good plans that are actionable and impactful, adding that they should be disciplined, fair, firm and prudent with the budget.

The governor also enjoined the commissioners to set up an independent monitoring mechanism to assess how well they had done in their Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

”We must discipline ourselves to work with the government plan.

“It is when you are disciplined that you can assess yourself to know whether you have done very well and know which areas you need to correct.

”You must have a disciplined budget. It is when you are disciplined with your budget that you can look at your citizens and tell them you have done what you promised based on your budget performance.

”With modesty, we in Lagos and more importantly in our government in the last three years, have not done below 85 percent budget performance.

”For your principals to do well, you need to do well. And for you to do well, you need to have a few qualities. You need to discipline yourself. You need to be very prudent yourself. You need to be fair, firm and courageous.

”You need to say to yourself that on this job, I will ensure that the greatest good is for the greatest numbers because that is the only way your principal will look good.

“That is the only way your governor will come out like a shining star,” he said.

In his address, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, said that sustainable economic growth and planning required timely action.

Agba said that the conference would ensure further collaboration between the Federal Government and the states.

He commended the Lagos State’s Developmental Plan, saying that Gov. Sanwo-Olu has displayed patriotism as Lagos remained an iconic centre for life events and economic opportunities with symbolic significance.

Agba said the theme of the conference was apt, with the demands to take action to tackle existing problems, to achieve national goals and objectives.

He called on commissioners to have a development plan to work in harmony with the nation’s economic drive.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Community of Practice, Mr Solomon Elisha, commended Gov. Sanwo-Olu for making Lagos a pointer in economic planning and sustainability, by making the environment favourable for the state’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget.

Elisha, who is the Taraba State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, said that the conference provided an avenue for experience sharing and building capacity on planning and budget preparation.