Obasa: 2023 budget should have more human face, targeted at reducing poverty

…makes case for one percent special allocation

Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa has said the budget of the state for next year should have more human face, be targeted at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the residents.

Obasa said this on Thursday while delivering his speech after the presentation of the 2023 budget proposal of N1,692,671trillion by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He said that though the Lagos State government had achieved a lot in its effort to improve the development of the state, it should constantly be conscious that the residents yearn for more dividends of democracy.

Obasa stressed the need for the Federal Government to approve the allocation of one percent special status for Lagos considering its population and the constant influx of people to the state.

Noting that this was the last budget to be presented by the current administration before the 2023 election, Obasa promised that the House would carry out its constitutional duty of scrutinising the proposal for the benefit of the residents of the state.

“There is, therefore, no doubt that in the remaining months leading to the end of this administration, so much more needs to be done; so much is still needed from us as the good people of Lagos yearn for more dividends of democracy, especially at this critical time,” he said while promising that the House would continue to support the executive arm of government to achieve a better, safer society,” he said.

The Speaker also urged Nigerians to vote for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress both at the state and the national levels as he described the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as one who has the capacity to make Nigeria great again.

“The effect of the unnecessary war between Russia and Ukraine that has resulted in astronomical surge in the price of energy across Europe and affecting standard of living and employment has also crept into the Nigerian economy. Over here, the impact is seen in the reduced direct remittances from diaspora and in direct foreign investments.

“Beyond these global challenges, telltale signs of local issues including insecurity in many parts of the country and unemployment are noticeable in Nigeria’s rising inflation rate which has, in turn, caused skyrocketing prices of food and other commodities. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that inflation rose by 20.8% in September, this year. While this most recent figure is up from 20.52% recorded in August, the result is that it further digs into the pockets of the citizens. This affects their purchasing power.

“While it is the constitutional responsibility of this House of Assembly to do the needful by meticulously working on the budget as presented by Mr. Governor, I want to assure Lagosians that members of this Honourable House will give a thought to the challenges so far highlighted as well as other considerations in the process of shaping the proposal to meet the aspirations of the people,” the Speaker added.