6th January, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday evening passed the state 2015 Appropriation Bill of N489, 689, 869, 621 with the House urging the executive arm of government to judiciously implement the law after it is given assent by the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
The budget is summarised into a recurrent expenditure of N241, 976, 638, 387 and a capital expenditure of N247,713,231,234.
Sectoral allocations show Works as taking the largest chunk of the budget put at N72.250 billion followed by Education which stood at N52.209 billion.
While Health got N32.4 billion, the Environment got N22.76 billion; Housing got N28.67 billion and Transport got N27.8 billion.
The House of Assembly will be spending N8.73 billion in the 2015 fiscal year; Science and Technology got N3.94 billion while Judiciary got N3.44 billion; Information and Strategy got N2.4 billion. Agriculture and Co-operatives got N2.17 billion.
The budget was finally passed after it was deliberated upon at the Committee of the Whole House.
Though the House had given its Committee on Economic Planning and Budget two weeks to complete its oversight on the budget, the period was extended because some government agencies did not honour invitations to appear for their screening early enough.
While presenting the budget on 24 November, Governor Fashola said it was the same size as the budget of 2014 and has zero per cent deficit.
He added 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.
Speaking after the budget was passed, Ikuforiji said the budget was the 10th he would be working on and the last as Speaker of the House.
“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 before his colleagues.
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 of the state to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, for what he called the necessary change in the country since the party has what it takes to change the country.