KEMI OMONIYI
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, has charged members of the committees of the House on budget to ensure a thorough screening of the Year 2023 budget presented before the House of Assembly by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the 27th of October.
The Speaker said this is necessary so as to close the gap between the estimated figure and revenue generated.
The Speaker said this on Sunday during his opening remarks at a three-day budget retreat tagged ‘Consolidating The Gains of The Current Administration in Lagos State in A Transition Year: Prospects, Opportunities and Recommendations’ organised for lawmakers and staff of the Lagos Assembly.
In his commendations of the lawmakers on their passion to ensure a greater Lagos, the Lagos chief lawmaker tasked the committees to constantly be steps ahead so their members could ask ministries, departments and agencies the right questions during budget defence and oversight.
“All over the world, the economy is bad and have been affected. Whether a budget would be surplus or deficit. Here in Lagos, we have our own challenge.
“So bridging the gap between the budget size and revenue is what the House of Assembly should do. When the executive arm determines the cost of projects, the committees should be able to check for the value of such projects.
“I am sure everyone recognises what we have been doing in Lagos and I urge you to continue so that you can always be appreciated,” he urged the lawmakers.
Welcoming participants to the retreat earlier, the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, said it was an opportunity for the members of the Assembly to familiarise themselves with the breakdown of the 2023 budget “in order to ensure effective continuity in budgetary guidance from lawmakers to Lagosians.”
A resource person, John Mutu from Hybitel Consultant which collaborated with the Assembly to organise the retreat, said it would help the members to reflect deeply on the ₦1.692 trillion 2023 budget recently presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“The objective is to reflect on the 2023 budget as presented by the Governor with a view to getting a direction,” Mutu, stated.
He stressed the retreat would enable lawmakers effectively do a post mortem of the 2022 budget and identify other priorities of the State that can be accommodated in 2023 budget.
