The Governor's Elders Advisory Council (GEAC) in Ogun State has described the proposed N1.054trn budget presented by Governor Dapo Abiodun to the state House of Assembly as a right step in launching the state into an enduring progress and prosperity.

The Chairman of the Council, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, made this known during a chat with newsmen after the Council held a meeting with the Governor at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Chief Okuboyejo who commended Governor Abiodun for dreaming big by presenting a substantial budget that would, in turn, help his administration's ISEYA mantra to succeed, urged the government to work towards achieving over 80 per cent budget performance in 2025.

"For a state like Ogun, budgeting over N1trn when states that have been in existence far longer and even larger are budgeting less, shows the size of work that is being done, we congratulate and give him kudos.

"It was christened the 'Budget of Hope and Prosperity.' It is what it is; you can see the size of the current one and the old one. It is progress, it is prosperity, if you look at the emphasis of the budget, the key areas rest on the government's own mantra of ISEYA.

"This is a big budget. The performance last year was put at about 70 per cent. This one, we advise him to go much higher, above 80 per cent, and wish him well," he said.

Chief Okuboyejo also applauded Governor Abiodun for keeping to promise made to the people of the state. "One thing stands to his credit: if he makes a promise, he keeps it; that is a credit. He should not deviate from it. All those areas that have been touched in the budget, he should get them through, and the people will stand by him," he said.

While commending the synergy and cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, he hinted that the Council was pleased with the efforts of government geared towards giving the people dividends of democracy.

"Experience has shown that if there is no cordial relationship, understanding or synergy, things will not move.

 

"At the presentation of the budget, the synergy, affection, and closeness of the two arms were demonstrated through the address of the Speaker and the response of the Governor. It gladdens our hearts to see that the relationship exists," he said.

The Council chairman also appreciated Governor Abiodun for embarking on massive infrastructural development across the state, noting that it has boosted the economy.

"When we met with government, we advised that with infrastructure, people can move, businesses can thrive, and that was taken with projects spread across all the Senatorial Districts of the state without anyone left out. We give him kudos; he should keep it up in the new year," he added.

The chairman described the recent local government election as a successful exercise, saying the results of the election reflects the level of confidence that the people had in the government.

"Excellent exercise, very successful because for people like us, in the past, we've seen elections with reports of head-breaking, ballot snatching, killings, and maiming, but there was nothing like that this time.

"We met and our experiences in our various local governments indicate that, by and large, it was a peaceful exercise, and we give him kudos for that," he said.

The Council charged the new local government officers to be accountable and  offer the citizens good governance, adding that governance at the local level is now different from what obtained in the past.

"The individuals who are now in the local government are part of a different local government system, not the old local government level where you could do anything and get away with it, no. It is a government of its own.

"With laws guiding its acceptability, responsibilities, and accountability, those who voted them in, if they don't do well, will throw them out, of course," he added.