Lagos Assembly Passes N489.6 bn Budget for 2015

The budget as presented to the house by Governor Babatunde Fashola comprises recurrent expenditure of N241,977 and capital expenditure of N247,713.

The House had given its committee on Economic Planning and Budget, headed by Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and other committees two weeks to work on the budget.

The period was eventually extended as some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) did not come up with the necessary papers in time.

Works and Infrastructure got the highest vote of N72.250 Billion followed by education with N52.09 Billion. Health, which came third, was allocated N32.4 billion instead of N37.81 billion or 7.72 per cent it was voted in 2014.

Environmental protection got a vote of N22.76 billion. Housing got N28.67 Billion, while Assembly got N8.7 Billion.

Information and Strategy got N2.4 Billion, while Agriculture was allocated N2. 17 Billion. The House also approved a budget of N21.4 Billion for Commerce and Industry as against N3.94 Billion given to Science and Technology. The state Transport sector was given N27.8 Billion and Judiciary was allocated N3.44 Billion.

According to Fashola, “We have retained the same budget size of 2014 to keep zero deficits.
“This will give the administration the room to start up very quickly,” he said.

He said that the 2015 budget would focus on payment of contractors’ liabilities to enable the government to complete as many projects as possible before handing over to the next administration.

“For example, out of the 400 roads that we promised, we have completed over 190 in the last three years, with 210 at various advanced stages.
“The on-set of dry weather provides the opportunity to complete all of them,” he said.

Fashola said that the government had started compiling a list of another 400 roads that would be handed over to the next administration for consideration, adoption and implementation.

Speaking after the passage of the budget, the Speaker of the House, Rt. (Hon.) Adeyemi Ikuforiji said that the budget was the 10th he would be working on as Speaker of the House and that it would be the last.

“The Committees of the House worked assiduously on the budget. We would have passed the budget in 2014, but for some ministries which did not come up with their documents in time. I want to commend the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget and other committees for a job well done,” he said.

Speaker Ikuforiji then advised the state government to implement the budget fully and ensure that the people of the states feel the impact of the budget.

“This House therefore directs the Executive arm to diligently and conscientiously implement provisions of this 2015 budget as passed by this Assembly. We remain a veritable partner of the Executive in managing the affairs of the state. We will always work together to take Lagos to the Promised Land.

“No section or area of Lagos State should suffer social amenities and infrastructural development if this budget is religiously executed. We have always tried to satisfy the yearnings of Lagosians in the provision of adequate security and life-changing amenities, we will continue unabated to do this, especially as we enter into an election year,” he said.

He also used the opportunity to call on the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he called the necessary changes in the country, adding that the party has good intentions for the country.