The Oyo State Government
has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to build the capacity of lawmakers in the state on effective budgeting and implementation.
Speaking at a two-day
training programme that was held at the Haruna De Plaza, Oyo, the Oyo State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, said that the training was aimed at evolving suitable strategies towards achieving a more result-based budget implementation in the state.
He explained that the budget process was not a mere technical exercise, but a fundamental component of governance that demanded full attention.
“We have made a top-down approach in our budgeting framework. It has always been an all inclusive budget in Oyo State.”
He said that budget planning required carefulness, and in Oyo State, budget has been more inclusive.The commissioner hinted that the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has a very cordial relationship with the Oyo State House of Assembly.
He said the state government has been prioritizing health and education as a major pillar of its budget.
He commended UNICEF for the collaboration and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening budget processes that would bring development across the state.
Babatunde, added that the training is expected to enhance lawmakers’ understanding of budget cycles, improve legislative oversight, and ultimately promote more inclusive and impactful governance.
Earlier,the Lagos Field office of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, said the Programme-Based Budgeting workshop is a part of the SUSI Project funded by the European Union with UNICEF’s technical support.
She explained that the aim was to help Oyo State embed programme-based budgeting in the social sector, and progressively across all sectors.
“At its core, this is about children. How resources are planned, allocated, and tracked will determine whether every child in Oyo can survive, learn, and thrive. And here, the Assembly’s legislative and oversight roles are critical.
“Oyo has already shown leadership. The state launched its first Social Protection Policy, created a coordination department, and institutionalized the MTSS process aligned with Agenda 2040 and the 5-year Medium-Term Development Plan.
“These steps strengthen budget realism and accountability, and they set the stage for better outcomes.
“We see this in the 2025 budget. Education receives ₦145 billion, about 21% of the total budget. Health gets ₦59 billion. Social protection has grown fourfold in two years, now at ₦2.18 billion. “These are impressive numbers that translate into real opportunities for the 1.7 million children under five in Oyo, and the 334,000 children still out of school.
“Yet challenges remain. Only 37% of one-year-olds are fully immunized, one in three children are stunted. More than four million people still practice open defecation, and gaps in planning, data, and monitoring continue to limit progress.
In their goodwill messages, lawmakers commend the Ministry of Budget and Planning and UNICEF for this critical workshop, adding that MTEF, MTSS, and PBB are essential for strategic, results-based budgeting. These tools are the backbone of fiscal responsibility and the Omituntun 2.0 agenda, ensuring public funds deliver tangible benefits for our people.
The workshop had in attendance lawmakers, including the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Taiwo Adenike Muraina-Akinola
