The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday signed the state’s 2025 budget into law.
The governor had, on December 10, presented a budget of ₦655.23 billion, christened the “Budget of Recovery,” to the State House of Assembly.
The 2025 budget proposal, which is higher than the total projected budget outlay for the 2024 fiscal year of ₦395.257 billion, was signed at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor’s office.
While presenting the budget, the governor noted that infrastructure and development would account for 36.40% of the total budget, followed by education, which takes 11.80%, and agricultural development, which attracts 8.60% of the total budget.
According to the governor, the budget is designed to cater to the welfare of the people, fulfilling his campaign promises.
He stated:
*”The Year 2025 Budget was carefully crafted based on the prevailing economic realities and inputs generated during our Town Hall meetings with various stakeholders across the State.
“The budget reflects our collective vision for the future of Ondo State and demonstrates that when we work together, we can achieve great things for our people.
“The 2025 Budget, aptly christened the ‘Budget of Recovery,’ which has just been signed into law, has a total size of ₦698.659 billion.”*
According to him, the capital and recurrent expenditures are ₦433.62 billion (62.06%) and ₦265.037 billion (37.94%), respectively.
“We have deliberately allocated the higher percentage (62.06%) to capital development to jumpstart the economy and initiate massive infrastructural renewal across the State, providing the foundation for our desired recovery,” he explained.
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The governor reiterated that the objective of the budget is to improve the lives of Ondo State residents. He stated:
*”This objective is sacrosanct and non-negotiable. It is our administration’s collective resolve to continue breaking new grounds that will usher in sustained prosperity for the good people of Ondo State.
“For this reason, the 2025 Appropriation Law allocates resources to key sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and social welfare, based on the required interventions in these areas.
“These allocations are not just numbers on a page; they are proposed investments in the lives and well-being of every resident of our State.
“It is through these resources that we will create opportunities, improve livelihoods, and build a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.”*
The governor, however, emphasized fiscal discipline, stating:
*”To achieve our planned objectives for the 2025 financial year, fiscal discipline will be strictly enforced.
“All spending entities are required to study the provisions of this budget for strict implementation, adhering to the principles of transparency, accountability, and disclosure.
“The efficient use of scarce resources will not be compromised. To this end, an electronic copy of the budget will be available on the State’s Budget portal: www.ondobudget.org, to ensure that all spending and procuring entities have access to the document for diligent implementation from Wednesday, January 1, 2025. We must hit the ground running.”*
The governor also emphasized data-driven policy implementation:
*”Data-driven policy implementation will be given serious prominence. The Ondo State Bureau of Statistics will be strengthened to provide timely data for policy formulation and implementation, ensuring that key government decisions are based on relevant state data.
“Monitoring and evaluation of projects and programs will also take center stage. The state’s monitoring apparatus will be strategically repositioned to ensure all projects are delivered to specification and address the critical needs of the people.
“There will be real-time monitoring of all projects as we institutionalize the state’s monitoring framework.”*
He added:
*”As we move forward, this budget will address pressing challenges while creating new opportunities for growth and development.
“We are committed to full transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the use of these resources, ensuring that every Naira spent improves the lives of our people.”*
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s developmental strategy, saying:
*”Our key developmental strategy, encapsulated in the acronym O’Datiwa, O’Dirorun, which means ‘Our Ease,’ remains our guiding principle.
“I reassure the good people of Ondo State that our government remains focused on economic development, achieving sustainable food security, resilient community development, and facilitating social inclusion and security.
“The 2025 budget is a tool for achieving these goals, and we will ensure its implementation is carried out with utmost responsibility and efficiency.”
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