Lagos State Government has begun bilateral discussions on personnel budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
This is a key component of the state’s budget planning process aimed at ensuring fiscal responsibility, efficient workforce deployment and strategic alignment with policy objectives.
The exercise coordinated by the Ministry of Establishments and Training, involves each MDA presenting its personnel structure for review and approval in preparation for the 2026 fiscal year.
Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, said the bilateral discussions represented a critical governance tool for effective human resource management in the public sector. He added: “This process is essential to aligning manpower needs with government priorities, maintaining a lean and efficient workforce and ensuring our personnel costs remain within sustainable limits.”
Ayantayo said the discussions would reinforce the state’s commitment to accountability and proper stewardship of public funds, adding that workforce planning must be evidence-based and future-oriented.
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Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Olubusola Abidakun, said the sessions were structured to provide a detailed and data-backed assessment of each MDA’s staffing profile.
“We are not only reviewing current staffing levels, but also examining future needs, identifying gaps and verifying records to ensure alignment with the approved establishment. This is part of our ongoing commitment to building a professional, efficient and responsive public service,” she said.
Abidakun noted that the ministry was working with stakeholders to ensure the exercise ran transparently and resulted in actionable insights that would support fiscal planning and service delivery improvements.
The bilateral sessions will continue over the coming days, with MDAs expected to make full presentations, supported by verifiable data. Outcomes from the exercise will directly inform the personnel budget component of the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill.