Yemisi Izuora/Ijeoma Agudosi-Lagos
The Lagos State House of Assembly Tuesday passed the N489.69bn 2015 budget presented to it by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola.
Lagos state House of Assembly speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji,however complained that the passage of the budget came late because some ministries and government agencies (MDA’s) could not appear before the appropriation committee to defend their budgetary allocations.
He said, “We would have passed this budget before the end of December last year, but for the failure of some ministries and government agencies to appear before the appropriation committee to defend their budgetary allocations.
“In spite of this delay, I want to commend my colleagues, particularly the chairman and members of the appropriation and other committees saddled with the consideration of the budget.”
The Speaker said the budget was the 10th budget of the state that he had presided over as the Speaker, adding that it would be the last and urged the executive arm of the government to be judicious and implement the budget as it was passed.
He said, “Nothing is as good and fair as proper and effective implementation of laws passed by the legislature. On the other hand nothing is as criminal as being contemptuous of the provisions of laws, especially the budget passed by the assembly.
“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.”
Ikuforiji said the All Progressives Congress was resolute and prepared to restore hope and glory to Nigeria.
“We want you to believe us as we marshal our resources and strategy to ensure the party wins the presidential election and other elections across the federation.
“We have given you our word and we assure you that we will not let you down. We have done it successfully in Lagos and some other states; we will replicate this and even do it better at the federal level,” he added.
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