House of Assembly Speaker says things will be better in 2016

Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, on Thursday assured Nigerians of victory over economic hardship and security challenges in 2016.

Obasa, in his New Year message read on the floor of the House, said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration had given the hope with the 2016 budgets of the state and the federal government.

The speaker said the priority given to capital expenditure ahead of recurrent in the state and at the federal level would bring relief to the masses.

He lamented that the country had witnessed many upheavals ranging from activities of Boko Haram to economic hardship, which had threatened the prosperity and security of the nation.

"We thank God that the insurgency is gradually fading away. I identify with the Chikbok Girls and identify with their parents, I pray for the safe return of their innocent girls soon enough.

"The hard economic hardship is biting hard, however, with the recent release of budget proposal by Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode which was just passed, there is hope.

"And with that of the President of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari, there are high hopes for Lagosians and indeed Nigerians to enjoy high dividends of democracy.

"The monumental increase in the capital expenditure at the federal level and the fact that the capital expenditure is higher than recurrent expenditure in the Lagos State budget are clear confirmation of the positive change.

"I call on all Nigerians, particularly Lagosians to look forward to a positive change in 2016.

“The APC administrations at both federal and state government are set to take measures at improving the standard of living of the people," he said.

The speaker, who said that after darkness, there would always be light, assured the people that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.

Obasa urged the rich to give back to the society by helping the less privileged.

"I use this medium to call on the rich among us to consider extending love to the poor among us. We should try as much as we can to accommodate the less privileged in our midst.

"We should endeavour to remember how we started and consolidate that by giving back to society. Ideally, every one of us should give back to the society.

"We do not need a lot of money to make charitable donations; little effort can make a difference to someone who is in need.

"We are not unaware of the conditions of the poor among us. We are promising on our side that things will be better in 2016," he said.

The speaker, who commended residents for their support to the House and the APC, urged them to pay taxes and dues regularly to help move the state forward.