Ambode presents 2019 budget to Lagos State House of Assembly with 54% going to capital projects

GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode has finally presented the 2019 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly as the recent face-off between the executive and legislature ended following the intervention of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders.

Over the last few weeks, Governor Ambode has been at loggerheads with the leaders of the assembly after it debated a motion calling for his impeachment amid charges that he was engaged in unapproved expenditure. Following the debate, the House summoned Governor Ambode to appear before it within one week over his failure to formally present the 2019 budget before the assembly.

Some Nigerians have accused former governor and All Progressives Congress APC) national leader Asiwaju Tinubu of inciting the lawmakers to impeach Governor Ambode, stressing that he was still in full control of the affairs of the state. It is believed that the lawmakers are unhappy with the governor for not bankrolling their campaigns, which is considered the norm in Lagos State.

With temperatures rising, several APC leaders in the state, including Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC governorship candidate Babajide Sanwoolu held a closed door meeting with Governor Ambode and the leadership of the House to resolve the matter. After their meeting, it was agreed that all impeachment charges should be dropped and the two arms of government should work together.

As part of the deal, today, Governor Ambode presented a budget proposal of N852.316bn ($2.35bn) before the Lagos State House of Assembly for the 2019 fiscal year. In the budget, recurrent expenditure totals N385.6bn and capital expenditure accounts for 462.7bn, providing a capital recurrent ratio of 54% to 46%.

According to Governor Ambode, the budget is projected to consolidate on the gains made so far in the state under his stewardship. Governor Ambode added that the budget is targeted to cater for the needs of the entire residents of the state.