By NAN
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) on Tuesday expressed optimism that the state’s 2014 budget would meet the expectations of the people.
Mr Bisi Yusuf, the All Peoples Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Alimosho I constituency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikeja that the budget would be fully implemented.
Yusuf, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, gave the assurance that the state government would continue to offer the public the dividends of democracy.
“The foundation has been laid; our governor is implementing the budget every year.
“Definitely you do not expect anything less than the performance of last year, so the dividends will continue; the APC will continue to deliver.
“Every other organ of the state government is doing its best to make sure that Lagos people benefit from the mandate they gave to the people (politicians) and that is exactly what is going on. “Year 2014 budget, by the special grace of God, will be analysed and examined.
“People should be assured that our governor is not going to rest, he will continue to move very fast on the fast lane this time around,“ he said.
Also speaking, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Chairman of the Lagos Assembly Committee on Budget, said the budget would meet the yearnings of residents.
Obasa, representing Agege II also on the platform of APC, told NAN that the state witnessed sustainable development over time given that the performances of its budgets were always rated above average. “There is no part of Lagos that there is no ongoing project and I think that is the testimony that the capital expenditure is actually working.
“Since the budget is a proposal and any budget that has done beyond 50 (per cent), we can always say that the budget has performed.
“And you also consider the compliance with other physical administration of the budget and how they have honoured their commitment towards financing aspects of the budget,“ Obasa stated.
In another interview, Mr Yusuf Ayinla, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (state), said that the budget estimate would meet the aspiration of the Lagos residents.
Ayinla told NAN that the budget would consolidate on the gains of the past while the Lagos residents would also be carried along in its implementation.
“The budget presented to the house by the state governor, will meet the aspirations of Lagos residents and it is to consolidate the development of the past.
“The proposed budget for 2014 is an indication that the governor wants to consolidate on the on-going projects across the state.
“He is able to perform excellently because he followed the footstep of his predecessor,” Ayinla said.
The lawmaker said that the budget would also address the issues of poverty and deprivation.
“We will scrutinise the budget before it is eventually passed; I believe the governor will perform excellently,” Ayinla said.
Governor Babatunde Fashola had, on October 30, presented the 2014 budget estimate of N489.7 billion to the House.
The budget was N8 billion less than the 2013 estimate of N497.27 billion.
