The Lagos State House of Assembly has set up a seven-man ad-hoc committee to begin necessary breakdown, analysis and deliberations on the state’s 2018 budget which was presented to members of the legislative body last week by the Governor of state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.
Members of the committee, as unveiled by the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, are Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu from Eti Osa Constituency 2, as the committee’s head, while the members are Hon. Yinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi (Ojo 2), Hon. Olufunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin 1), Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2), Hon. Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo 2) and Hon. Noheem Adams (Eti Osa 1).
Commenting on the budget during its second reading during plenary on Monday, the lawmakers commended the Governor for proposing 67% for capital and 33% for recurrent in the budget which was tagged; “Budget of Progress and Development.”
It will be recalled that Governor Ambode presented a budget proposal of N1.046trillion to the Assembly on Monday 11 December, 2017.
Committing the budget into the hands of an ad-hoc Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa stated that the budget was a gift to the people of Lagos State, but that a gift could not be judged by its size until it was unwrapped.
Obasa stated that the budget should be properly scrutinised by both the committee on
and other subcommittees.
Meanwhile, debating the budget earlier, Hon. Tunde Braimoh (Kosofe 1) urged the assembly to give the budget an accelerated consideration and that it should be given a quick passage as it would turn the fortune of the state around.
He stated that the Assembly would do its best to work on the budget so that the people of Lagos could have a better life.
In his contribution, Hon. Abiodun Tobun from Epe Constituency 1 stated that the ratio of capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure was commendable, adding that the budget gave preference to the security of lives and property as well as healthcare.
“The embedded power generation in the budget, as well as upgrading of slums with the budget on physical planning and the proposed building of specialist hospitals to discourage people from travelling abroad for medical treatment, is commendable,” he said.
Also speaking, the head of the as hoc committee, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu stated that the objectives of the budget would only be realised if the right things were done and that the budget was, among other things, directed at improving security and power in the state.
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