July 26, 2024

….Will prioritise citizens ‘ input in Y2025 budget

Lagos State government says 23 percent of Y2024 Budget is allocated to infrastructural development as it has an IGR target close to N1.1 trillion for 2024.

The stare government also 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 and  revelation while fielding questions from the media during the ongoing Y2025 budget consultative forum.

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 the status of projects across the state.

His words: “This is the beauty of this sort of engagement and forum. We are here to report about 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 a new update which we will ensure that we take back to ministries that are involved to get progress reports on it”.

Mr. George, highlighting the achievement of Y2024, said, “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 Foodbank 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’s 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”.

“We have an IGR target close to N1.1 trillion 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”, he added.

The Commissioner further stated that the State government has ensured that 23 per cent of the Y2024 budget is allocated to the economic sector to cater for infrastructural renewal and development towards modernising the city and supporting its growing population.

Hence, the State launched several initiatives and projects to improve the standard of living, build infrastructure, ensure food security, enhance ease of doing business, provide affordable public transportation, and improve energy supply.

Recall that Mr. Goerge had on Tuesday during the opening of the consultative forum in Lagos Division reeled out some of the various projects and programmes implemented from the 2024 budget including: the ongoing construction of the Ajah-Ibeju Lekki Express Road, Yesufu Abiodun Road to Eti-Osa, Oniru Road and Ajah to Epe Road which are at various stages of completion.

Meanwhile, Oroyinyin Road, Ojo Giwa to Idumagbo Avenue are newly awarded for construction and Adeniji-Adele Road from Oyebanji to Palace Road is also being looked into among others.