Hon. Lukman Olumoh a member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun constituency 1, in the Lagos State House of Assembly has indicated the inherent benefits of the already assented Y2025 budget for Lagosians.
Speaking in a chat with Sunrise News Olumoh hinted that the budget size was increased a little to accommodate essential provisions, like the minimum wage increase, state owned electricity outfit, other infrastructural projects and more.
According to the lawmaker (Olumoh), who is the Chairman of the house committee for Economic Planning and Budget, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented a ₦3.005 trillion budget tagged ‘Budget of Sustainability’ to the house sometimes in November 2024, but got after critical view ₦3.366 trillion to cater for the basic needs cited, in which infrastructure takes a lion share of a little above 60 percent.
“A 3.005 trillion budget was presented to the house however, after a meticulous effort of the house, basically all the standing committee of the house took their time to go through it and the house passed a budget of N3,366Trn, a little bit higher than the figure Mr. Governor presented.
“The reason for the increase is not far fetched, during the budget process, last year approval of minimum wage was not captured then, LAWMA workers are also adequately provided for.
“We also took the cognisance of the electricity bill Mr. Governor just signed into law.As there was no provision for its implementation, because the budget had already been presented before assent to the law, all these brought the budget up to that level.
“We have over 2.071trn to be expended on capital projects this year by government. Renewable infrastructure is key for a forward-looking economy like Lagos.
“Rail lines, roads got better attention, hospitals will now run on alternative energy source instead of depending solely on the national grid as the case may be.
“We are trying to make governance easy, making sure that the right provision is made for the MDAs so that we can deliver dividend of democracy to the people.”
Hon. Olumoh however, hinted further that going by the sectoral breakdowns virtually all sectors have been touched in the year 2025 fiscal document, which has direct bearing on the on Lagosians welfare.
“Of much importance to me is the ‘Ounje Eko’ at the Ministry of Agric that Mr. Speaker has graciously also said that some monies should be voted because Lagosian likes that project, which used to be on weekly basis, now we are bringing it back.
“It is not palliative perse but the government is expected to make the market active across the 20 LGA and 37LCDAs of the state so that and many more are part of the components; we want to make food available.
“The rice mill Imota will be producing now at more or less maximum capacity, because we have also made adequate provisions for our lands in Ogun and Osun state, we have lands in Badagry, we can farm rice and tomato.
“You will be seeing a lot on tourism aspect, daily people come to Ikeja here, they go to JK Randle recreational centre in Lagos Island, now we are saying this should be replicated in the five divisions of the state.
“We are also looking at ways of decentralising governance. We want the presence of our ministries and departments to be felt in every facet of the state, so instead of you coming from Badagry to do business, provision has been made in this years budget under the office of works, to see how we can replicate offices in our IBILE divisions.
“We have also made adequate provisions for our general hospitals all across the state. For example, the one in Epe is now a Federal Medical Centre, it will take effect from March but we didn’t forget that it is still within the state coffers, so we’ve made adequate provisions for the running of that hospital between now and when it will be eventually taken over by federal government.
“So, if you looked at all the sectors you will discover that we have touched every sector in the state.” Olumoh said.
