…Says 23% of 2024 budget spent on infrastructural devt
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State government on Wednesday restated its commitment to all-inclusive governance, reassuring residents that their contributions and requests are being recorded for an actionable implementation process.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George gave the assurance while fielding questions from the media during the ongoing Y2025 budget consultative forum at the Ikeja Division, held at the Radio Lagos Auditorium, LTV complex in Agidingbi.
The commissioner re-emphasised the need for citizens’ engagement stating that the beauty of the budget consultative forum is for the government to get feedback from the people, take it back for possible action and also update on status of projects across the state.
His words “This is the beauty of this sort of engagement and forum. We are here to give report of what was asked last year, why certain things have happened and why some have not. We have noted what they want; they have given us new update which we will ensure that we take back to ministries that are involved to get progress report on it.”
Mr. George, highlighting the achievement of Y2024, noted that “we knew that the macroeconomic indices will change, social protection was key and in the 2024 budget, we paid a lot of attention to social protection which is why you find an initiative like Ounje EKo, the Food bank e.t.c.
“We did not also stop in our infrastructural development. Concurrently, we ensure that we keep going with infrastructure like the Opebi-Mende-Ojota link bridge, the Blue line (phase II), the New Massey Children hospital and a lot of things going on. For us, the 2024 budget has shown that we have balanced both the infrastructure development and social needs.”
He also hinted on the performance of the Y2024 budget “We have an IGR target close to N1.1trillion for 2024 and we are just finishing our mid-year review of which we are currently in the process of going through. We are okay with our indices, our sustainability state is quite good. We are also looking at increasing other forms of IGR.”
In his address, the commissioner said that “the State government provided 23 per cent of the Y2024 budget to its Economic Affairs Sector to cater for infrastructural renewal and development to modernize the city and support its growing population.
“The State launched several initiatives and projects to improve the standard of living, build infrastructure, ensure food security, enhance ease of doing business and affordable public transportation, and improve energy supply.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Goerge had on Tuesday at the opening of the consultative forum in Lagos Division reeled out some of the various projects and programmes met from the 2024 budget.
He said ”400 beneficiaries got cash relief or grants for their businesses between January-June 2024 (Small and Medium Enterprise – 155 beneficiaries, Micro Enterprise Loan – 218 and, Micro Enterprise Start Up – 27) from a total amount of N277, 972,6422.55. 265 youths got empowered in Tie and Dye, as well as 510 vocational training with collaboration with women for grassroots development.
“Provision of Palliative measures for families such as distribution of Ounje-Eko Palliative, 25 percent Transport rebate, 25 percent food discount, Sunday Market Food Discount, Free Health Care for Women and Children amongst others. Grants/allowances were provided to People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) with aims to set up businesses and, as well as government carrying out awareness across the state to eliminate discrimination against PLWD using public and private transport systems.”
The consultative forum moves to Ikorodu division at the Town Hall on Thursday. While on Friday, it will hold in Epe division at the Jubilee Chalet and ends next Tuesday at LASU for the Badagry division.
