Lagos State government has commenced the bilateral discussions on personnel budget for its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), 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, in a statement, yesterday, 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.

According to the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, the bilateral discussions represent a critical governance tool for effective human resource management in the public sector.

“This process is essential to aligning manpower needs with government priorities, maintaining a lean and efficient workforce, and ensuring that our personnel costs remain within sustainable limits,” he said.

Ayantayo emphasised that 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.

In her remark, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olubusola Abidakun, stated that the sessions are 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 further noted that the ministry is working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the exercise runs transparently and results in actionable insights that will support both fiscal planning and service delivery improvements.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Parastatals Monitoring Office (PMO), Adetutu Olufemi Ososanya, yesterday, said the PMO had worked tirelessly to enhance compliance, improve operational efficiency and promote financial prudence across agencies in the last one year.

Ososanya, who spoke during the ongoing media briefing to mark the sixth year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office, said: “The establishment and strengthening of PMO has often been driven by calls for increased transparency, accountability and efficiency in the operations of parastatals and government-owned companies through the provision of independent oversight functions.”

She said that the parastatals and state-owned companies are of utmost importance to the socio-economic development of the state in particular and the country in general.