Lagos Assembly assures residents of swift passage of 2017 budget

THE Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, assured residents of swift passage of 2017 state’s budget to provide succour for the people, especially at this time of recession.

The spokesman of the House, Tunde Braimoh, gave this assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Braimoh, chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, however, said the assembly would not compromise its statutory mandate on budget scrutiny before passage.

“The House of Assembly promises to live up to its billings as partners in progress with the executive to the ultimate benefit of the citizenry.

“We assure the residents  of swift passage and implementation of the budget, in order to provide great succour for the people, especially at this time of recession.

“The assembly promises earnest, diligent, conscientious but very scrutinising consideration and passage of the budget, subject to amendments where necessary,” Braimoh said.

According to him, the assembly had directed all its committees, organs and other apparatuses to handle the budget with utmost concentration.

He said all standing committees of the assembly would report back to plenary by the next adjourned date.

Braimoh,  APC-Kosofe II, said that the budget would have  expeditious but assiduous passage.

NAN reports that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had on Tuesday proposed N812.99 billion as the state’s budget for 2017.

The budget comprises recurrent expenditure of N300.53 billion and capital expenditure of N512.46 billion.

The House on Thursday directed all its standing committees to work on the budget proposal.

The House resolved that all its standing committees should invite relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government  for defence of their proposals.