Lagos State Government has assured residents of fair representation and significant investment in the area of infrastructure in the 2022 budget preparation.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube, made this known at the weekend at the conclusion of a five-day consultative forum, held at the Radio Lagos Hall, LTV, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on the creation of the 2022 Appropriation Bill across the five divisions of the state, namely Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe. The forum was aimed at seeking the input of stakeholders in next year’s budget.
Egube, who thanked Lagosians for their participation in the budget preparation process, said the government would look into the inputs, concerns and submissions by their representatives.
He assured them of equal representation in the budget.
“These five days have been very important to us; we have heard from the people of Lagos. We are going to document everything we’ve heard from them. We won’t promise that we’ll be able to do everything that they have highlighted because the budget is always outdriven by the limit such as revenue, but we promise that we will take them seriously,” the commissioner said.
He said the 2022 budget estimate would follow the audacious N1.164trillion 2021 Appropriation Law, focusing on infrastructure and other people-oriented programmes.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Aare Bayo Sodade, said: “This forum is aimed at reaching out to the five divisions of Lagos State so that inputs of stakeholders are taken into cognisance in the state’s budget preparation process, to further ensure transparency and acceptability of the budget. The Y2022 budget is geared towards the development of the state and its residents through the provision of improved welfare packages, adequate and proper distribution of wealth and critical infrastructural development of each division of the state for a more sustainable living.”
The state Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Lekan Suleimon-Oba, thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the high level of youth engagement in the state and appealed for increase in their yearly grant.
The forum, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, attracted traditional and community leaders, religious leaders, professionals, trade groups, NGOs, youth organisations, People Living With Disability (PLWD) and the Organised Private Sector.
Leave a Reply