Lagos 2019 budget: Lawmakers want Ambode to appear in House

Lagos State House of Assembly says Governor Akinwunmi Ambode must appear before the House to properly present the 2019 budget as required by law.

The lawmakers also say they are not responsible for the delay in the presentation of the budget as painted by the executive, adding that notice got to them while on recess.

The state commissioner for economic planning and budget, Segun Banjo, had in a statement last week said the 2019 budget size of N852. 317 billion had been with the House of Assembly since December 18, 2018.

But the lawmakers, on Thursday, exonerated themselves, as the clerk, Azeez Sanni, intimated the lawmakers that his office received a message from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dated Monday, December 17, 2018, but which he received.

The speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who commended the lawmakers for their reaction to the message, stated that this was not the time for resentment, acrimony and agitation, adding that the stake before the lawmakers was beyond 2019.

“We must do everything to sustain our government, party and the state. You have all shed light on the issue in a matured matter.

“We went on break on December 18, 2018. The first call I received on the budget was on December 24, that the governor was willing to present the budget on that day.

“We normally go on break for six weeks, but we went on break for two weeks as we were waiting for the budget. Also, we received the budget on December 28, when we were waiting for the New Year break.

“There is no reason to shift the blame on the house that we were not willing to receive the budget,” he said.

Obasa said the lawmakers were willing to receive the 2019 budget, saying that this was one of the reasons they were elected into office.