Kwara State's 2012 budget of ‘Consolidation and Development' was lauded by party faithful and queried by the opposition when Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed made the presentation on December 9, 2011. The opposition described it as a sounding cymbal of a political neophyte.

But the governor insisted that, "Our aim is to use these successes as the foundation for long-term growth while delivering the benefits of development to our people on a timely and efficient basis.

The budget sought to expand the productive base of the state economy through increased agricultural and industrial production; develop new infrastructural facilities and rehabilitate existing sectoral projects; stimulate economic development through a systematic implementation of the administration's interlinked Seven-point agenda; and create wealth through human capital development, investment promotion, and development of micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

The state planned to spend roughly N47bn on recurrent and N43bn on capital:

There was the promise to boost the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), an exercise that did not record much success. For instance, a body instituted to collect IGR on the signage could not be said to have recorded major breakthrough in its endeavour as many concerned persons still display their sign boards without paying for the statutory fees.

Priority was given to key sectors as follows; road development, N11.5bn; N2.7bn on water supply; N8.5bn on education; N1.8bn on energy; N3.8 on health and N2.6 on agriculture.

There was a promised to ensure the emergence of homegrown successor generation of commercial farmers – the Integrated Youth Farm Training Centre at Malete and Fish Farming Training Programme at New Yidi. To enhance long-term sustainability of these centres, the government said it would enter into partnership with interested agricultural institutions to enable them benefit maximally from various agricultural support schemes.

The Guardian investigations showed that no graduation was observed at the Youth Centre during the year under a review, just as the Fish Programme does not exist.

In the Works and Transport section, where N3.2 Billion was set aside for construction and rehabilitation of new state and rural roads, the government made some appreciable impact. While the state could be lauded for investing more on rural roads and construction of drainages in urban centre roads, its initially celebrated ‘Operation No Pot Holes', faded with the time. At present, a section of the Asa Dam dual carriage road is under construction, just as the Fate/Sango Round About remains in a pitiable state. The expansion of a section of the Ilorin/Jebba Road in order to ease traffic congestion to the permanent site of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) was carried out within the 2012 budget year.

Government promised to strengthen the Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) to make roads motorable all year round. To facilitate its work, a sum of Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira was provided.

Besides, the activities of the Kwara Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) were enhanced to strengthen the government hold on the roads, create orderliness and ensure free flow of traffic.

But the state chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kayode Olawepo sharply criticised the government for reneging on its plan to construct bus depots and lay-bys in the year to ensure orderly bus mass transit services in the state capital.

According to Olawepo, "where are the bus terminuses and lay-bys as promised? In fact, what is annoying most is the lack of zeal by government to stop illegal motor parks in the state capital. Again, look at its initial pronouncement on the ban on commercial motorcyclists on some designated routes in the state capital. Today are you not seeing these cyclists where they said they should no longer ply? So what is there than for the people to vote to power the ACN in the next dispensation?"

In the area of commerce, the major breakthrough in the year was the invitation given ‘Shoprite' International Market Stores to establish in Ilorin, the state capital. But this could not be a celebrated achievement for the less privileged, who are not favourably disposed to any idea on ‘Perfect Marketing'.

The state's Information Commissioner Tunji Morounfoye claimed that the stores on the day of its opening had made the sale of about N15 Million. Morounfoye added, "the major role of government in this sector is stimulation of industrialization through the promotion, development and encouragement of strong and organised small and medium scale industrial activities. In this regard, government has resolved to facilitate more access of small enterprises and cooperative groups to debenture funds in the state."

The provision of traffic and street- light in Ilorin metropolis and the 16 local government headquarters in the state formed the kernel of achievement by the government in the energy sector. Besides, the Ganmo, power substation built by the immediate past administration was maintained and upgraded in order to boost electricity distribution. A sum of N1.8 Billion was earmarked for this sector.

Government said it recorded improvement in infrastructural facilities in educational institutions at all levels order to create conducive learning environment. It said at least over 800 classrooms were renovated under the scheme.

Government promised to construct the International Vocational Centre, Ajasse-Ipo in the 2012 financial year at a cost of N1bn. When completed, the centre is expected to provide internationally-recognised and market relevant vocational training for Kwara youths. But Olawepo sharply criticised the "fake promise," noting, "the only thing done at Ajasse Ipo was the foundation laying ceremony. I am a constant user of the Ajasse Ipo road and I have not seen any block laid on top of another since that so- called foundation laying ceremony was performed."

One area the state government attempted to sanitize in the outgoing fiscal year was the state bursary and scholarship programme. Government ensured that only students in good standing order got the funds in order to encourage improvement in learning. This arrangement was not applicable to students at the Law School. A sum of N145 Million was said to have been disbursed for this purpose.

Kwara State University, Malete was given the top priority in the allocation of subvention to tertiary institutions owned by the state government. Government said the development was to allow the new institution to meet its accreditation requirements and other infrastructural developments.

In the health sector, the most conspicuous expenditure is the comprehensive renovation of the former UITH complex, to make it competitive with any teaching hospital in the country. The complex was originally owned by the state before it was leased to the UITH. But with the recent movement of the UITH to its permanent site, the state government regained possession of the complex. As at the time of filing this report, work at the complex is said to have reached about 80 per cent.

Although the state contingent to the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Lagos was on the medal table, Olawepo said the performance was a far cry from the potentials of the state in various sporting activities. Besides, he said the state's owned Football Academy had become moribund, just as he lambasted the government for the inability of its owned Premiership side, Kwara United Football Club to win any laurel in the concluded football season.

"I think the state should be ashamed of itself in the area of sports. How do we explain these performances to the whole world, even when we produce the incumbent minister for sports? The state is dying in this area and I think the government and even the minister should rise up to the occasion."

In terms water provision, government said it has lived up to the promise of making water available within a radius of 500 meters. The reticulation works of Asa Dam, the largest in the state is ongoing just as the laying of pipes within Ilorin metropolis is in process. But despite all the efforts, the pipes still remain dry in many homes in the state capital.

In the area of environment, government carried out some beautification programmes in the metropolis. It rehabilitated three major roundabouts in the state capital and beautified same.

The opposition and the civil society has more work to do, in terms of holding government accountable and carrying out parallel oversight of projects, to ensure compliance with public procurement and fiscal responsibility laws. As it were, there is a dearth of independence monitoring of government activities in the state, as the legislature, whose responsibility it is to carry out oversights appears not forthcoming.