Knocks, Kudos Trail Makinde’s N1.1trn 2027 Budget Proposal

Mixed reactions have trailed the N1.1 trillion 2027 budget proposal presented by Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, to the state’s House of Assembly on Wednesday.

Reacting to the budget proposal in an interview with LEADERSHIP on Thursday, an economist, Adetunji Olalekan, said the structure and policy thrust of the 2027 budget were designed to yield several key developmental impacts across the state.

He said that with over 60% (N670.03 billion) dedicated to capital expenditure, the budget prioritises physical infrastructure, including the completion of ongoing road networks, rural-to-urban integration, and public facilities to stimulate long-term economic activity and reduce transportation costs.

According to him, as the final budget cycle of the current administration, its primary intent is legacy consolidation, finishing critical signature projects in education, health, agriculture (building on gains from OYSADA and agribusiness hubs like Fasola), and security rather than starting uncompleted ventures.

While noting that the budget was preceded by inclusive stakeholder and consultative meetings across the state’s seven zones (Ibadan Main City, Ibadan Greater City, Oke-Ogun I & II, Ogbomoso, Oyo, and Ibarapa), he said the budget

was structured to reflect localised grassroots needs, ensuring that rural and urban areas alike share in state resources.

He explained that the 39.93% allocation (N445.31 billion) for recurrent expenditure was mapped to cover civil servant welfare, pension commitments, and running costs for public institutions, helping maintain workforce stability and purchasing power within the state economy.

Also, while a farmer in Ido Local Government Area of the state, Adesola Ogundele, wondered what the governor wants to do or not in just five months remaining in the New Year, the National President, Yoruba Youth Service Association (YYSA), Comrade Olalekan Hammed, said the budget was commendable.

Hammed, in an interview with LEADERSHIP in Ibadan on Thursday, said: “Makinde’s 2027 budget is commendable on paper, but implementation will decide its impact.”

According to him, allocating 60.7% of the ₦1.115 trillion budget to capital expenditure is no small feat, and it signals an intention to invest in development.

“What matters most now, however, is implementation. The level of implementation will ultimately determine how impactful the budget truly is.

“In the last seven years, the Oyo State government has prioritised road construction within Ibadan and other urban centres, while roads in rural and developing areas have remained largely impassable.

“This neglect has had serious adverse effects on agricultural produce, largely due to the high cost of transporting farm produce from rural areas to the cities.

“It is therefore advisable for Governor Makinde and the incoming administration to focus on the reconstruction of roads in rural and developing areas across the state.

“Doing so will go a long way in boosting food production and reducing the cost of food in markets across the state,” he said.

The farmer, who said he was not so keen about what the governor wants to do or not in just five months remaining in the New Year, said, “We can’t even say he has five months because both the months of January and February are for elections and they are practically out in terms of real governance.

“So, the budget presentation to me was just the necessary ritual to mop up”.

While noting that the governor was privileged to have 96 months to govern the state, out of which he would have spent 91 months by the 31st of next month, he said, “What meaningful impact is he going to make in just five months remaining, having wasted a whole 91 months on frivolities?

“He strangled the local government councils across the state all those months, leaving the tier paralysed and, by implication, causing stunted growth of the people at the grassroots.

“So, how is he going to make up for those wasted years resulting in the ungraded feeder roads, the untarred or unpaved inner roads, dilapidated schools, ill-equipped primary health centres, among others?

“In a nutshell, and to be candid, I don’t see anything in the budget that can impact the people or improve the people’s living standard because the governor doesn’t have the mindset of anything of such.

“Here is a person who, at a forum, admitted that, truly, the states across the country are receiving huge monthly allocations from the Federal Government, but the money being received is not to fight poverty and that the FG should tackle poverty by itself.

“So, what do you expect from such a person? Even if there is anything that resembles poverty alleviation in the budget, just know it is camouflage and not something to draw attention to.

“The state made a costly and regrettable mistake through an unholy coalition eight years ago and will definitely live with the consequences for many years to come,” he added.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Seyi Makinde, presented the proposed ₦1,115,341,378,359.90 (approx. ₦1.12 trillion) 2027 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly, officially tagged the “Budget of Sustained

Progress.” It marks the final budget presentation of his administration’s second term.
The key breakdown of the budget was ₦1,115,341,378,359.90, Capital Expenditure: ₦670,030,943,646.45 (60.07%), Recurrent Expenditure: ₦445,310,434,713.45 (39.93%).