Lagos Assembly Speaker tasks committees on budget screening

Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has charged committees of the House to ensure a proper screening of the 2023 budget of the state to enable them to close the gap between the estimated figures and revenue generated.

Obasa stated this, yesterday, during his remarks at a three-day budget retreat tagged, “Consolidating the gains of the current administration in Lagos State in a transition year: Prospects, Opportunities and Recommendations,” organised for lawmakers and members of staff of the Assembly.

The Speaker, who commended the lawmakers for their passion to ensure a greater Lagos, tasked the House committees to be steps ahead so that their members could ask Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) the right questions during budget defence and oversight.

He said: “All over the world, the economy has been bad and affects whether a budget would be surplus or deficit. Here in Lagos, we have our own challenges.

“So, bridging the gap between the budget size and revenue is what the House of Assembly should do. When the Executive arm determines the cost of projects, the committees should be able to check for the value of such projects.”

“I am sure everyone recognises what we have been doing in Lagos and I urge you to continue so that you can always be appreciated,” he urged the lawmakers.

Earlier, while welcoming participants to the retreat, Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, said it was an opportunity for the Assembly members to familiarise themselves with the breakdown of the 2023 budget to ensure effective continuity in budgetary guidance from lawmakers to Lagosians.”