Governor writes Lagos Assembly on 2017 budget re-ordering

chika ebuzor

September 25, 2017 5:48 PM

The governor said that the re-ordering would help the state government to upscale the road construction and rehabilitation across the state.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday, Sepember 25, sought the approval of the Lagos State House of Assembly to re-order the 2017 Budget.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambode’s request was contained in a letter he personally signed, and which was read on the floor of the House by its clerk, Mr Azeez Sanni, during plenary.

According to the request, a total sum of N42.028billion comprising N31.105 billion from capital expenditure and N10.922 billion from recurrent expenditure will be re-ordered if the proposal is approved by the assembly.

The governor said that the re-ordering would help the state government to upscale the road construction and rehabilitation going on across the state to improve connectivity.

Ambode also said that part of the re-ordering would be spent on purchasing 700 buses in line with the state transportation reforms.

He added that the re-ordering would also enhance the upgrading of equipment for the state emergency management authority and for improved security equipment for better surveillance.

According to him, the re-ordering will, however, not affect the total budget of N813 billion passed by the House for 2017.

Ambode said in the letter that the state government had successfully achieved 64 per cent of the 2017 budget by the middle of the year, adding that the re-ordering was necessitated following a review of the priorities of the state government.

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“It is now expedient to re-order the budget to address some of the critical expenditures to enhance efficient delivery of services.

“We want to provide world class infrastructure for the people of the state.

“The proposed re-ordering is expected to increase the tempo of good services and address the priorities of the state government.

“It will address main fiscal strategy and sustain expenditure profile, it will drive capital expenditure by improving the capital recurrent ratio,” the governor said.

The proposal was, however, not discussed by the lawmakers before the House adjourned until next Tuesday.

chika ebuzor