Speaker promises to pass Lagos budget as New Year gift
The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, on Saturday, said the House would soon pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law as a New Year present to Lagosians.
This is as the Speaker thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu “for not being like other governors who seal up the Assembly complex or who remove roofs of Assembly buildings.”
Obasa spoke on Saturday when Sanwo-Olu paid an unscheduled visit to the venue of the budget retreat for members of the Assembly in Abuja.
Describing the governor as a leader, brother and performer, Obasa noted that Sanwo-Olu had always supported the House in carrying out its functions, according to a statement signed by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele.
“He has always answered our calls at every point in time. Thank you for coming to check on us and for everything you have been doing.
“We also thank you for not being like other governors who seal up the Assembly complex or who remove roofs of Assembly buildings. That is why Lagos is great and the Lagos State House of Assembly is above the common standards of excellence.
“We are working on the 2024 budget and that is why we are here. I want to assure you that we will do our best to return the approved budget to you as soon as possible. It is going to be a New Year present to you and the people of Lagos,” the Speaker was quoted to have said.
Earlier, the governor described the lawmakers as the best among their counterparts in other states, and used the opportunity to emphasise the bond that exists between him and Obasa, while praising the lawmakers for lifting the bar of legislative excellence in Nigeria.
“This is the best and finest and it is worthy of emulation. I want to thank you and say this is, indeed, how we should always organise ourselves. Keep up raising the bar,” he said.
“You see, what Lagos State is doing shows that we are leading the way for other states to copy. We show the way in legislative, executive and judiciary affairs.
“This is an avenue for you to bond, interact, appreciate one another and effectively do the job that Lagosians have asked us to do.
“There is the talk around town that we have a big budget, but I also tell them it is because we are big people. I appreciate the fact that you have a huge responsibility and I pray God Almighty to give you the ability and courage to do the work dispassionately.
“Whatever the outcome, you can rest assured that the governor will stand by it and work with you.
“There is no animosity between the Speaker and myself. We are two different sides of the same coin. We are brothers and friends, and God will lead us to a level where we can take Lagos to an irreversible state.
“Mr President is watching us. He has no other state that he can call his own. He is the President of Nigeria, but he has his roots in Lagos. Our success is his success and Nigeria’s success. When we get it right, the whole nation will be on its way to getting it right,” Sanwo-Olu added.
The PUNCH reported that Sanwo-Olu last Wednesday presented a budget estimate of N2.2tn tagged ‘Budget of Renewal’ to the House for the 2024 fiscal year.
The budget comprises 55 per cent of capital expenditure and 45 per cent of recurrent expenditure.
The PUNCH also reported that Lagos lawmakers are in Abuja for a three-day Budget Retreat tagged, ‘Sustainability of ongoing reforms in Lagos State: Prospects, opportunities and challenges.’
