Ekiti Targets Higher Internally Generated Revenue At Local Councils

Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has launched a fresh push to strengthen the finances of local government councils, calling for reforms that will boost internally generated revenue, entrench fiscal discipline and improve service delivery at the grassroots.

The governor said enhancing the financial capacity of local councils remains central to his administration’s commitment to strengthening local government administration and accelerating grassroots development across the state.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, Oyebanji spoke on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti at the opening of a three-day workshop on “Fiscal Administrative Due Process and Enhanced Internal Revenue Generation.”

The workshop was organised by the state Ministry of Local Government Affairs in collaboration with Hibad Strategic Solutions Limited for key officials of local governments across the state.

According to the governor, meaningful development must begin at the grassroots because local governments remain the closest tier of government to the people and often serve as the first point of contact for citizens seeking public services.

He stressed that the effectiveness of local governments depends largely on the competence, integrity and professionalism of officials responsible for managing public resources, adding that capacity building remains a key component of his administration’s governance strategy.

Oyebanji said the workshop was designed to address two critical areas of local government administration—fiscal administrative due process and enhanced internal revenue generation.

He described fiscal due process as the bedrock of good governance, saying it promotes transparency, accountability, value for money and public trust while reducing corruption and waste.

The governor said participants would be exposed to modern approaches to revenue administration, financial planning, auditing, expenditure control, risk management and revenue optimisation, expressing confidence that the knowledge acquired would translate into reforms that improve the financial sustainability of local councils.

He added that, having secured a renewed mandate from the people of the state, his administration remains committed to consolidating existing achievements while accelerating development in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, digital innovation, security and economic growth.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Foloruso Olabode, described the workshop as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening the financial and administrative capacity of local government workers in response to evolving public sector governance demands.

Olabode said the facilitators assembled for the programme would equip participants with practical insights, innovative solutions and actionable strategies capable of transforming fiscal management practices at the local government level.

He emphasised that effective service delivery at the grassroots requires sound fiscal management, strict adherence to due process, transparency in public expenditure and sustainable revenue generation mechanisms.

According to him, boosting internally generated revenue should go beyond collecting more money and instead focus on building efficient systems, leveraging technology, improving record-keeping, strengthening monitoring mechanisms and identifying new revenue sources without increasing hardship on citizens.

Also speaking, the Head of Service in Ekiti State, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, urged participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the training, noting that improved productivity among workers would enhance overall government performance.

A representative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC), Bello Bakori, called for stronger anti-corruption measures within local governments and reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the state in promoting accountability, transparency and integrity in governance.

Traditional rulers, local government chairmen, officials of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, top local government officials and personnel of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs attended the opening ceremony, including the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaiye.