Ambode, right, with Speaker Obasa

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State will have the opportunity to hit 2016 running in his effort to meet the yearnings of the residents of the state. This is because the state House of Assembly has fixed 31 December for the passage of the budget for the year presented by the governor last week.

Multiple sources told our correspondent that the members had agreed to pass the budget as a New Year gift to the state and its residents since it would help the governor kick-start the year meeting the earmarked projects proposed for the year.

“We are seriously looking at every area of the budget to ensure that we produce what can be described as the best the state can produce.

“You can see that since last week, we have been extremely busy sorting out areas of concern. I can assure you that the budget would be passed before the New Year and Lagosians would have course to be happy,” a member of the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, told our correspondent.

Since the budget of N662.5 billion was presented by Governor Ambode to the House, the House had engaged ministries, departments and agencies in budget defence so as to quicken the passage of the budget.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa had promised that the budget would be passed early enough to allow the governor commence work, but that the House would ensure its detailed scrutiny.

“Here in Lagos State, the three tiers of government: the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary have always been striving to put our people first in all that we do.

“It is however pertinent to note that the very cordial relationship existing between this legislative House and the executive has not stopped us from performing our constitutionally assigned roles of exercising control over the state’s purse.

“In treating this budget, we will not forget that we are trustees for the people. A lot has indeed been done in the area of job creation and economic empowerment of Lagosians. But there is a dire need to create more opportunities for our people; more jobs will definitely lead to greater economic growth.

“We need not be reminded that easy movement of people and goods is essential and important to the economy of a state. Therefore, we must continue to forge ahead,” the Speaker had said during the presentation.

Also Speaker Obasa, last Monday expressed optimism that the budget would enhance infrastructure development and meet the goal of the state government for the year.

The budget has passed the second reading with the House committing the bill to its Committee on Economic Planning and Budget chaired by Rotimi Olowo.

“I think with the approval of the House, Lagosians will have a cause to smile. The budget focuses on capital projects; we should support the executive,” Obasa said at the sitting, explaining that the state had been funding most of its budget with its internally generated revenue and as a result, the budget performance would not be affected by dwindling revenue.