Ondo State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Emmanuel Igbasan has stressed the need for a legal framework establishing Department of Monitoring and Evaluation and making it compulsory for MDAs in the State.
The Commissioner made the call when members of the State House of Assembly committee on Finance and Appropriation visited the Ministry as part of their oversight functions.
Igbasan said the move would go a long in helping government to evaluate the effects and results of the funds being released for the implementation of its programmes and execution of projects.
"We must make everyone key into monitoring and evaluation. It's an action that was first carried out by God. After working for six days, He stopped and evaluated all he has done, after which He adjudged them good. That was the beginning of monitoring and evaluation."
He remarked that all the accolades the government was getting from Local and International bodies on budgetary transparency was the resultant effect of the budget implementation appraisals done by the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ministry.
According to him, the 2023 budget proposal tagged Shared Prosperity was deliberately crafted to favour capital expenditure as against recurrent to put an icing on the cake of the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu's government achievements.
Igbasan thereby solicit the committee members cooperation in ensuring a quick passage of the budget proposal.
Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Tomide Akinrogunde had commended the Ministry for painstaking steps taken to prepare the budget.
Hon. Akinrogunde said the tour of all the Local Governments and meeting with stakeholder, different groups and professional bodies has made the budget all inclusive.
The Chairman appealed for the Ministry's presence during the budget defence by the various MDAs.
Other members of the House Committee such as Hons Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, Akogun Omole and Dr. Faleye as well as the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bayo Phillip all spoke at the event.
Sunday Ajibola,
Head Media,
Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.