The Ogun State Ministry of Budget and Planning has Introduced a calendar to facilitate increased predictability and transparency in the state budget in order to enhance credibility and consistency in budget implementation.

The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo, made this known while addressing journalists on the activities and achievements of her Ministry since the inception of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in the state.

She said with the calendar in place, the Ministry would be better positioned to plan its schedule of activities particularly as they relate to the preparation and management of the state budget.

Still on steps being taken to ensure successful budget implementation, Mrs. Muoyo revealed that the Ministry had commenced the production of a manual that would assist concerned officers in the proper execution of their duties for effective and efficient service delivery.

On the advantages of the Public Financial Management Reform Agenda recently launched by the state government, the Commissioner said that among other things, it would ensure credibility in budget preparation, implementation, accountability, efficiency in management of public fund and promoting transparency, saying all these had been the focus of the Ministry in the last two years.

Mrs. Muoyo also revealed that in the last two years, the Ministry had commenced the implementation of coordinated aids and grants mobilisation from the donor community, adding that already, the state had been shortlisted for the next tranche of International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Apart from this, the Commissioner stated that the state has signed a N597 million UNICEF programme Implementation Agreement for 2011-2012, and another Memorandum of Understanding with the UNFPA for N716 million.

She assured that necessary steps would be taken to ensure that these funds were justifiably expended for the benefit of the people of the State.