The Kwara State Government said on Thursday that it would begin the groundwork for the 2019 fiscal budget in September.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Wasiu Odewale, disclosed this during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
Odewale said that the 2019 budget would be tagged, “legacy budget,’’ and it would focus on massive investment in security and social infrastructure development in the state.
He added that the budget would be zero-based, as a new administration will take over government’s expenditures next year.
The commissioner, who described the budget as a policy direction, added that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed would hold a meeting with stakeholders on Sept. 17.
“At the meeting, the governor will tell the stakeholders the direction of the 2019 budget of his administration, and we should be able to highlight and assess projects on ground.
“The importance of commencing a budget on time is for the people to feel its impact, in order for us to sustain what we have started.
“We want to be able to sustain the tempo to avoid rushing during the electioneering year.
“We have a central budget planning committee with people drawn from the various ministries,’’ he said.
Odewale said that the early commencement of the budget will allow for its proper implementation.
“By statutory provisions, the appropriation bill for the following year should be before the Legislature by September or October, so as to allow ample time for its scrutiny,’’ he said.
