The Ondo State Government has said its proposed 2025 budget would give priority to food security and entrepreneurship to diversify the economy of the state.
The state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Emmanuel Igbasan, stated this in Akure on Wednesday during a consultative meeting on the state’s 2025 budget and 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Igbasan, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary Economic Planning and Coordinating Office, Mr Bamidele Daisi, said the budget would intervene in the businesses of the people.
He said that the budget when completed would provide platforms for youths and students to bring their potentialities to bear.
The commissioner said that the cosultative meetings, which would cut across the different sectors, including artisans, was meant to get all stakeholders involved in the drafting of the budget.
According to him, the meeting is to allow the participants to present their demands and expectations from the state government in terms of financial plans that will enhance their businesses.
“ The essence of inviting the stakeholders is to ensure their needs are taken care of in the 2025 budget,” he said.
Also, the Administrative Secretary of the Budget Office in the ministry, Mr Stephen Aworere, who spoke on feedback on the 2024 budget, said “the state government in its projection for the budget pegged the exchange rate at N750.
“I know that the fuel subsidy removal and floating of exchange rate tremendously affected the implementation of the budget,” Aworere said.
He said that inflation was also pegged at 21 per cent, but food inflation in Ondo State was currently 43 per cent contrary to the Federal Government 34 per cent figure.
Aworere said that the removal of subsidy on fuel and floating of naira had altered the basic structure of the 2024 budget of the state.
In their comments, the stakeholders asked the government to introduce capacity development, local content and engage in Private Partnership Initiative (PPI).
They also urged the government to rehabilitate the Onyearugbulem Industrial Park and provide functional toilet and water facilities as well as solar power in the park.
The stakeholders advised the government to organise Trade Fair in the state for fabricators and other artisans to showcase their products.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that youths, students and people living with disabilities were present at the meeting.( NAN).
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