Lagos Assembly Passes 2015 Budget

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the state 2015 budget. The passage came about six weeks after it was presented to the lawmakers by Governor Babatunde Fashola. He had presented a N489.69bn budget proposal. The Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who observed that the passage came late unlike in the past, explained that the development was due to the failure of some ministries and government agencies to appear before the appropriation committee to defend their budgetary allocations. He said, “We would have passed this budget before the end of December last year, but for the failure of some ministries and government agencies to appear before the appropriation committee to defend their budgetary allocations. “In spite of this delay, I want to commend my colleagues, particularly the chairman and members of the appropriation and other committees saddled with the consideration of the budget.” The speaker said the budget was the 10th budget of the state that he had presided over as the speaker, adding that it would be the last. He urged the executive arm of the government to be judicious and implement the budget as it was passed. He said, “Nothing is as good and fair as proper and effective implementation of laws passed by the legislature. On the other hand, nothing is as criminal as being contemptuous of the provisions of laws, especially the budget passed by the assembly. “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.” Ikuforiji said the All Progressives Congress was resolute and prepared to restore hope and glory to Nigeria. The Assembly passed the N489.69bn budget as presented by the governor. 

Punch, (Online)