LASG reaffirms commitment to people-oriented projects, begins 2027 budget consultation – News Agency of Nigeria
By Aderonke Ojediran
The Lagos State Government on Monday pledged to continue to engage residents and other stakeholders in formulating its annual budgets.
The state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ope George, gave the assurance on Monday in Lagos.
George spoke at the 2027 Budget Consultation Forum for the Ikeja Division, where stakeholders made submissions on their priorities and development needs.
He said the consultation remained an important avenue for the government to listen directly to residents, understand their needs and incorporate relevant submissions into its development planning.
According to him, the government does not only consult stakeholders but also returns to communities to give an account of projects and programmes it implemented based on previous engagements.
“Every year, we go around Lagos State and talk to our people. We ask them what they want to do and what they want government to do for them,” he said.
George said such engagements enabled the government to better understand the aspirations of the residents, particularly young people seeking opportunities in entrepreneurship and other areas of economic development.
He said the process also allowed the government to assess its performance, explain why certain projects were implemented and identify areas requiring further intervention.
“The essence is for us to plan properly, come back and give an account of what we have done, why we have done it and where we are,” George said.
The commissioner said that submissions from stakeholders were considered alongside the state’s broader development priorities in preparing its annual budget.
He urged the residents to continue participating actively in the consultation process, saying their contributions were essential to ensuring that government programmes would reflect the needs of communities.
George said the government remained focused on infrastructure development, improved transport, economic empowerment, enterprise development and other initiatives capable of improving the quality of life of Lagos residents.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Olayinka Ojo, said the budget consultation was designed to ensure that government resources would be allocated in line with the priorities and aspirations of the residents.
Ojo said the consultation was an opportunity for the residents and other stakeholders to contribute to the development agenda of the state.
“The 2027 budget is about how our resources are distributed to meet the needs of all stakeholders.
“It is about combining our thinking with our priorities to drive growth and improve the lives of our people,” she said.
She said Lagos had continued to position itself as a major economic hub through investments in infrastructure, transport, healthcare, education, human capital development and enterprise support.
According to her, the state’s development strategy places emphasis on creating an enabling environment where economic growth translates into employment opportunities and improved living standards.
Ojo said the government would continue to prioritise completion of ongoing infrastructure projects, job creation, food security, enterprise development, human capital development and social interventions.
She added that the state would strengthen partnerships with the private sector to attract investments, improve revenue generation and enhance delivery of public services.
The permanent secretary said the government’s investments in transport, healthcare, education, water infrastructure and other critical sectors were aimed at building a more functional, productive and inclusive Lagos.
She noted that the Blue Line and Red Line rail projects, among other major infrastructure initiatives, were part of the government’s efforts to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities across the state.
The Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr Semiu Karaole, urged the state government to sustain its focus on grassroots development, particularly in the areas of healthcare and environmental management.
Karaole said that stronger attention to primary healthcare, environmental sanitation and other community-level interventions would have direct impact on residents and complement the state’s broader development efforts.
He called for greater collaboration between the state and local governments to ensure that needs identified at the grassroots would be adequately reflected in the 2027 budget.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum provided stakeholders in the Ikeja Division with an opportunity to present their priorities and make recommendations to the government ahead of preparation of the 2027 Lagos State budget.(NAN)
