Kwara begins 2026 revised budget deliberations to strengthen fiscal discipline

The Kwara State Government has commenced deliberations on the 2026 Revised Budget, with a focus on aligning government expenditure with actual revenue performance and strengthening fiscal discipline across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Mary Ronke Arinde, Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, disclosed while welcoming representatives of MDAs to the budget review exercise.

In a statement signed by Ogundeji Oluwakemi Beatrice, Assistant Press Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Arinde explained that the mid-year review provides an opportunity to address challenges encountered in the implementation of the approved budget, including over-expenditure, inadequate funding, and the over-budgeting of programmes and projects.

According to her, the review is aimed at ensuring that budgetary allocations reflect current economic realities and the state’s revenue outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Arinde noted that one of the key issues under consideration is the need for budget revisions to be guided by actual revenue performance, particularly receipts from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), rather than expenditure projections submitted by MDAs.

She added that the Central Budget Committee emphasised the completion of ongoing projects as a priority, noting that the commencement of new projects would only be considered with the approval of the Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Speaking during the budget defence session, Bolanle Olukoju, Commissioner for Communications, commended the Central Budget Committee for its thorough review process while presenting her ministry’s 2026 budget proposal.

She said the exercise would help eliminate irregularities, improve the accuracy of budget preparation, and promote sound budgeting practices across the state.

The Committee expressed confidence that addressing the identified issues would produce a realistic and implementable revised budget capable of promoting prudent resource management, accelerating project delivery, and enhancing service delivery to the people of Kwara State.

Other priority areas identified during the deliberations include sustaining the current monthly allocation regime; ensuring the timely submission of expenditure and revenue performance reports by MDAs; providing adequate funding for the SABER and Ease of Doing Business reforms; strengthening compliance with Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) principles; accurately capturing capital receipts; and bridging the gap between budget approval and assent to prevent unauthorised expenditure.

The 2026 Revised Budget is expected to further reinforce the Kwara State Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainable socio-economic development.