Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) of government in the state working with Development Partners should synergise with the State Economic Team towards harmonising programmes, projects and activities for the benefit of people across the state.

Ogun State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, who stated this during a Stakeholders Engagement on Development Partners, at the Conference Room of the Ministry in Abeokuta, added that there was need for the MDAs to cultivate an open channel of communication with the Department of Development Partners Coordination under his Ministry for proper and effective coordination of activities.

Mr. Olabimtan explained that the meeting was deliberate and targeted at addressing noticeable gaps affecting the implementation of services to the people, ensure that political heads and accounting officers were abreast of project objectives, towards actualising the partnership goals.

He urged participants to ensure that outlined programmes and projects of their respective agencies were incorporated into the Medium Term Sectoral Strategy (MTSS) and yearly budget, restating the need for agencies to have a clear understanding of the prospect list of their MDAs.

The Commissioner said they should endeavour to make projects initiated conform with laid down guidelines, stating that some of the challenges identified including, underreporting and duplication of efforts, uncaptured partners, poor budget performance, lack of alignment, among others would be addressed for effective service delivery.

Contributing, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Dada, said the meeting was to synergise with the heads of MDAs in charting a course for a successful outcome of goals, highlighting the benefits of the partnership to include, improved governance, provision of technical assistance and financial support, diversification of resources, social impact and so on.

Also speaking, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Development Partner Coordination, Mr. Lanre Adenekan described the meeting as a mechanism for effective coordination of development partners’ projects across the state, assuring that the projects would have a direct impact on the people.

Earlier, the Director, Development Partners Coordination, Mrs. Funmilayo Tade revealed that the department coordinates project information and communication, monitors how Development Partners support is being utilised by the government while ensuring efficient and effective utilisation of existing support, among others.