The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi’s Ambode recently at Alausa Ikeja presented the 2017 budget, tagged: “Golden Jubilee Budget.”
While addressing the audience at the occasion and expressing appreciation to God for the giant steps taken so far, especially in the area of creating jobs for the citizens, he said that God has been faithful and gracious to the state. He then commended the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Obasa and other members for being partners in progress in developing the economy of the state.
Ambode recalled that the 2016 budget of N662.58billion was approved and signed into law on January 4, 2016 and by October 2016 the total performance of the budget was 71 percent and the total revenue stood at N350billion representing 77.5 percent with the capital expenditure of N200 Billion at 62 percent. According to him, the current expenditure was N180billion at 82%.
The Governor started that as time goes on, the state would continue to render its performance and activities through the usual town hall meetings and expressed confidence about the encouraging results that the state has recorded.
While specifically addressing the Speaker, honourable members of the house and distinguished ladies and gentlemen present, he told them that the people’s budget of 2016 had positively impacted on the lives of Lagosians.
In his words, “I am confident that the year 2017 budget would consolidate on our achievements and propel our state to an enviable height. The proposed 2017 budget is N812.998billion and it is a budget coming at a time we are planning to celebrate our Golden Jubilee.” According to him, the budget would continue our massive infrastructural development and the enhancement of Lagos as one of the four most tourism investment destinations in Africa.
The Governor said that while they would focus on physical infrastructure, the state would also pay greater attention to social infrastructure, especially health, education, youth and social development in 2017. He said that the key component of the “Golden Jubilee” budget and the budget size will be N813billion; current expenditure …………….; capital expenditure ………..
In terms of the federal allocation, he said they maintain a cautious approach because of the falling oil prices, which was just about $41.98 per barrel as at the time the budget was finalized. Another thing he said was the sustenance of debt financing both in short term and medium term and to enhance the collection of revenue throughout the year.
To this end, several initiatives were mapped out including automation on efficient revenue administration, employment of more collaborators in local and international infrastructure through public-private partnership especially in the area of roads, transport, housing and the environments etc.
In terms of security, Ambode said that they would make the state safe and secure through also making the Neighbourhood Safety Agency fully operational by 2017. He stated that the key focus of budget 2017 would be road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance to open the internal network of roads in all the divisions of the state.
Apart from roads and transportation, the state government would also focus on urbanization, channelization of waterways and establishment of more parks and garages as well as community sports center and stadiums across the state.
Ambode also promised, “We would fully implement National Health Insurance Scheme, E-health, E-Insurance service operations. We would complete the ongoing, upgrading and extension work at the state general hospital at Ayinke House, Ikeja, and we would also establish digital library to prepare our youths to have the benefit of technology and communicate in the language of the future.
The Governor disclosed that his administration was involved in various projects in the area of tourism and the vision is to create a tourism board around the Onikan Lagos – Marina axis, Epe and Badagry. There is also going to be a museum for Art and Culture in Ikeja, Five Arts and culture theatre in the five divisions of the state and many other projects.
Ambode also talked about paying special attention to rice production, Animal husbandry and good crops. In this regard, he said, “we would intensify our collaboration with other states in the development of commodity value chain, especially food commodities and boost fish production capacity in the state.” He said that all these would be done with the aim of providing employment for youths and encouraging them to become entrepreneurs.
However, the state Governor noted that with the recession in place and with the year coming to an end, everyone should be cautious of their environments as they continue to build a state that would work for