The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), supports the South West Commissioners for Economic Planning and Budget Community of Practice (CoP), in partnership with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria. Through the CoP, states are reviewing, for adoption, minimum benchmarks for coordinating policy, planning and inclusive budget process towards improving service delivery in the region.

The CoP meeting was held in Akure, hosted by the government of Ondo State. Commissioners for Economic Planning and Budget from other states of the Southwest, including Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and Osun were in attendance, some represented by Permanent Secretaries and directors from the Ministry. The chief host of the meeting (Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ondo State), Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, stated that it is expected that Western Nigeria would become a development reference point for Nigeria and Africa. He appreciated the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, for his unwavering support and commitment towards reforms.

At the session, participants shared lessons around inclusive governance practices and processes to enable cross-learning. Some of these processes are:

• Citizens Needs Assessment Exercise in Ekiti State;
• Planning Reform at the Local Government Level in Lagos State;
• Development of the Medium Term Sector Strategy in Ondo State;
• Development of a State Development Plan in Osun State;
• Improvement of Inter-agency Collaboration for Results in Oyo State.

These processes were initiated by State Governments and in some instances, supported by DFID-PERL. PERL continues to support governance reforms and citizens engagement in the Southwest and other parts of Nigeria.