Ondo State Government has revealed that the State would continue to welcome new innovations in governance and Public Financial Management and ready to share full details of what is being practiced in the State.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan disclosed this while playing host to a 7-man delegate from Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on a study tour of Ondo State Budget preparation, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Civic Data Registration otherwise known as Kaadi Igbe Ayo.
Pastor Igbasan, noted that the visit indeed underscores the need for regional integration and collaboration in order to further broaden and quicken the pace of development in the region.
His words, “I will like to welcome you on behalf of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN to the State and to add that we are indeed humbled by your visit to Ondo State in order to know the workings of our Civic Data Registration (Kaadi Igbeayo), Budget preparation and Monitoring and Evaluation.
He explained that the State Monitoring and Evaluation System is one of the best in the Federation, wherein the World Bank has assisted the State in developing its Monitoring and Evaluation framework, policy and other manuals that are assisting in monitoring performance across board.
The Commissioner went further to state that the State has quarterly, biannual, and annual budget performance reports online which has entrenched accountability and integrity of the system, he noted that the citizens’ engagement in budget preparation has further brought good governance to the door step of the citizens of Ondo state.
On Data Civic Registration and Mother and Child health programs, the Commissioner explained that even though the program were inherited from the last administration but failed before the exit of the administration because they were not well structured and monitored.
Pastor Igbasan stated that the present administration re-crafted the Data Civic Registration for better performance, while the Mother and Child Hospitals were increased from two to seven with a view to bringing heath care services delivery to the door step of the people across the State.
According to the Commissioner, all what a pregnant woman requires to have access to free health service for herself and her children is her Data Civic Registration Card otherwise known as Kaadi Igbeayo, which he said thousands of pregnant women and children in the State have benefited from.
The Commissioner therefore wish the delegates a fruitful stay in the State, urging them to seek clarification wherever necessary during the visit.
The Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Foluke Adebiyi, who led the team explained that the visit would enable them learn from Ondo State with a view to replicating same in their State, given that Ondo State is the forerunner in Monitoring and Evaluation, and Data Civic Registration in Nigeria.
Adebiyi said, “Oyo State deemed it fit to understudy your budget preparation, monitoring and evaluation in order to find ways in which we can exchange ideas to further strengthen our budget preparation.”
She, therefore, solicited the necessary cooperation and assistance from the Ministry to allow members of the team to get familiar with the processes of the programs and replicate them on return to Oyo State.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Bunmi Alade took the visitors through the oversight functions as well as the achievements of the Ministry, giving critical analysis of how different departments in the Ministry cooperate and harmonise with a view to achieving greater results.
Banjo Egunjobi, Media Manager, MEP&B.