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EXCLUSIVE: Governor Ambode presents 2017 Budget today. [FULL PRESENTATION SPEECH]

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The Lagos State 2017 budget has been presented by Governor Ambode today at the Lagos State House of Assembly in the presence of all lawmakers from all constituencies in Lagos. Below is a transcript of his full presentation speech:

 

PROTOCOL

 

At the commencement of this administration, we began a journey with the people of Lagos with a promise to make the State work for all. We undertook this journey with great hope for tomorrow. We set forth not alone, but with the Almighty who has been faithful and very generous to us as a State in spite of the present economic situation we have found ourselves as a Nation.

 

On behalf of all the people of Lagos State, I wish to commend the Honourable Speaker and all Honourable members of this hallowed chamber for their unrelenting strides in growing and developing the economy of the State and being worthy ambassadors of our people.

 

The Year 2016 budget of N662.588bn was approved and signed into Law on January 4th, 2016 to focus on the expectations and priorities of our people. As at the end of October, 2016, the overall performance of the budget was 71%. Total revenue stood at N350bn/77.5% while Capital Expenditure closed at N200bn/62% and the Recurrent Expenditure performed at N180bn/82%.

 

As you are all well aware, we shall continue to render our performance/activities through in our Quarterly Town Hall Meetings in which the last Three meetings showcased all our activities in all sectors.

 

It is my strong belief that by the end of this year; there would have been more improvements in the performance indices due to our strong investment in infrastructure. It is worthy to note also that the reforms and restructuring in the Public Service have continued to yield positive and encouraging results as we continue to invest the resultant savings in other economic sectors of the State.

 

Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, “The People’s” budget of 2016 has positively impacted the lives of Lagosians and I am confident that the year 2017 budget will consolidate on our modest achievements and propel our State to enviable heights.

 

The Year 2017 Budget will be in effect at an auspicious time when our State will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee Anniversary. The proposed budget with a size of N812.998billion will continue the massive renewal of our infrastructure and the enhancement of Lagos as one of the foremost tourism and investment destination in Africa.

 

While we focus on physical infrastructure, we shall continue to pay due attention to social infrastructure especially health, education, youth and social development in 2017.

 

The key components of “The Golden Jubilee Budget” are:

Budget Size – N813bn

Recurrent   Expenditure – N300.535bn

Capital    Expenditure – N512.464bn

Capital/Recurrent ratio – 63:37

 

We have maintained a conservative approach in estimating our Federal Allocation due to falling oil prices that was about $41.98 per barrel at the time we finalized this budget; however the State expects an increase in Federal allocation through 13% derivation from Oil & Gas in 2017.

 

In view of our financing gap, we shall continue to sustain deficit financing in the short-to-medium term; enhance revenue growth throughout the year on several initiatives including automation and efficient revenue administration.

 

We would explore more collaborations with local and international investors through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) especially in the areas of Road network expansion, Transport; Housing, and the Environment.

 

The sectoral allocations as proposed in this budget will be distilled further by the Commissioner of Finance later today.

We will equally continue implementing the ease of doing business reforms – starting a business, property registration, tax payment, e-GIS/ Smart  City project, continue to encourage investments in Lekki Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Badagry Deep Sea port and the Eko Atlantic project.

 

We will remain steadfast in our responsibility to make the State safe and secure for all our citizens. We will continue to invest in Security. The Neighbourhood Safety Agency will become fully operational by 2017 with presence in all our Local Governments and LCDAs.

 

A key focus of the budget for the 2017 is road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance. Our government will focus on roads that will open up the hinterlands, improve connectivity in the State and reduce travel time. Some of these projects will include:

  • Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road from Oshodi.
  • Agric-Isawo-Owotu-Arepo Road in Ikorodu
  • Igbe-Igbogbo Phase II- Bola Tinubu Way in Ikorodu.
  • Ijegun Imore Phase II Amuwo in Ojo axis.
  • Oke-Oso-Araga-Poka in Epe.
  • Epe-Poka-Mojoda in the Epe axis.
  • Completion of the Abule-Egba, Ajah and Pen Cinema flyovers.

Our administration shall enter into PPPs for the following projects;

  • Oke Oso-Itoikin dualisation Project in the Epe axis.
  • Okokomaiko-Seme Road Project in Badagry axis
  • Ikorodu-Agbowa-Itoikin-Ijebu Ode Road Project in Ikorodu axis

We will commence the Phase II of the 114 Local Government Roads project and the Fourth Mainland Bridge in 2017.

 

In the course of the 2017 Financial Year, we shall carry out fundamental reforms on all our modes of transportation – Roads, Water and the Walkways. In this wise, a Public Transport Infrastructure Bond will be issued in the course of the year.

 

The State government will embark on the Urbanisation of the Marina axis, Waterways Channelization, establishment of more Parks and Gardens as well as the Community Sports Centres and Stadiums in different locations across the State.

 

We will fully implement the Medical Health Insurance Scheme and deploy e-Health/ e-insurance Health Service solutions; and complete the on-going upgrading and extension work in the State General Hospitals and Ayinke House in Ikeja. Work will commence on our Medical Park in the 2017 fiscal year.

 

With the aim of making Lagos State the next technology frontier in Africa, we will invest in Digital Libraries (e-Libraries) as well as Code Lagos projects to prepare our younger ones to meet the new workforce demands, harness the benefits of technology and communicate in the language of the future.

 

Our administration is committed to various projects in the area of Tourism. Our vision is to create a Tourism Hub around the Onikan-Lagos Marina Axis. We will also develop the Epe and Badagry marinas to harness the tourism potentials of these areas. We will establish Museum for Art and Culture in Ikeja, construct 5 Arts/Culture theatres in Alimosho, Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu and Ikeja with a 400-seater hall in each of them.

 

We will accelerate the food expansion programme with a special focus on rice production, animal husbandry and root crops. We will intensify our collaboration with other States in the development of a commodity Value Chain specifically for food commodities. We will invest more to boost fish production in the State, by improving the production capacity of Ayobo Fish Farm Estate in Alimosho area in addition to providing employment opportunities for the youths.

 

The Employment Trust Fund has commenced financial support to our youths and entrepreneurs and this will be intensified throughout next year.

 

In the area of environment, we will improve water supply through Public Private Partnership (PPP) and increase the capacity utilization of water treatment plants, ensure efficient waste management system by increasing the number of Transfer Loading Stations from three (3) to fifteen (15), mitigate the effect of climate change through the conservation of the natural environment and promotion of biodiversity, as well as minimizing flood through effective erosion control.

 

Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, in our bid to ensure that Lagos works for all, we have presented an all-inclusive budget. However, we are constrained by rising inflation as well as limited financial resources.

 

We seek the cooperation and understanding of all residents in prompt payment of taxes and for the information of our citizens, the State Government has embarked on extensive revenue collection reforms. We will soon introduce more effective multi-pay channels to improve the administration and collection of Revenue. Our Central Billing System and efforts to fully automate revenue collection for ease of payment have reached an advanced stage.

 

The successful implementation of this budget   depends on all Lagosians. We all have a huge responsibility to ensure that it succeeds as we cannot just afford to fail even at this critical period of economic recession.

 

As we approach the end of the year, we implore all citizens to be conscious of their environment and take all preventive measures as appropriate. We will continue to ask for your support at all times as we continue to build the Lagos that works for all.

 

I wish you all, a prosperous and more fulfilling Year ahead.

 

Thank you for listening.

 

Itesiwaju IpinleEko, Lo Jewalogun!!

 

AkinwunmiAmbode

Governor of Lagos State

November 29, 2016

Kwara state House of Assembly confirms IF-K Establishment

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The Kwara House of Assembly has confirmed the establishment of the State Infrastructural fund (IF-K) for execution of capital projects under the Public Private Partnership Structure in the state.

The confirmation followed the presentation of the letter from the Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to the Speaker Dr Ali Ahmad on the notification to establish State lnfrastructure Fund (IF-K) for the execution of capital projects under the PPP.

The Speaker while reading the resolutions of the House said the confirmation became necessary since the state government according to him had addressed issues raised on the establishment of the IF-K.

Dr. Ahmad who recalled that officials of the IF-K concerned with the grey areas were summoned by the House, said the IF-K should with this confirmation, commence execution of projects that would have positive impact on the people of the state in earnest.

The Governor had in his letter informed the House that the State PPP had been fully set up in line with law establishing the IF-K and the board according to him had ratified all appointments of the Bureau and matters relating to IF-K in accordance with section 18(1) and section 10 of the KP3 Bureau law respectively.

Governor Ahmedpraised the House for its suggestions, recommendations and expediency given to deliberations on the matter.

How Nassarawa State House Of Assembly Was Turned To Boxing Ring

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Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly engaged in a free-for-all on Monday over the appointment of sole administrators for 11 local government councils by Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

The free-for-all occurred on the floor of the legislature barely two hours after the governor inaugurated the 11 sole administrators.

Glasses were shattered while tables and chairs were upturned in the violence that engulfed the House.

A faction that described the governor’s action as illegal was opposed by another faction that supported the action of the governor.

Some legislators sustained injuries during the violence while some had their clothes torn.

Briefing newsmen at the legislative complex, a member, House Committee on Information, Mr. Makpa Malla, said that seats and tables were broken during the fight.

Describing the appointment by the governor as illegal, Malla said the Assembly could not continue to watch the governor perpetrate illegalities in the state.

He said, “As you can see, this is the executive room of the state House of Assembly, where we sit down every morning to discuss matters which would bring development to the state and the country at large.

“Categorically, I want to state here that the division which caused this chaos was as result of the appointment of the sole administrators by the governor. As a responsible legislature with some of us as lawyers, we insisted that the right thing must be done.

“The Section 7 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – as amended – guarantees a democratic system of governance at the local government level. The provision of the constitution is explicit on how the local government structure should be run.

“That is why we are kicking against the appointment of the sole administrators. Sole administrators only existed during the military era and as respecters of the rule of law, we must ensure that the executive must also respect the rule of law.”

Malla, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm and be law-abiding as the law would take its course in the matter.

Also speaking during the press conference, Mr. Abubakar Kana, an All Progressives Congress member representing Kokona-West, said there was no provision for the position of sole administrator in the laws of Nasarawa State.

He said this was the reason why the lawmakers kicked against the action of Al-Makura.

He said, “Where would the sole administrators derive their powers from? Who determines the tenure and salaries of the sole administrators? Sole administrators are not known to Nigerian and Nasarawa laws.

“If the sole administrators commit any offence, under what law would they be tried?”

Reacting, the Deputy Speaker, Godiya Akwashiki, who is a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Nasarawa-West, condemned the action of those who opposed the governor’s action.

Credit: Punch

Effective Communication Skills Essential For Legislators – Clerk

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Mr Ganiyu Abiru, the Clerk, Lagos State House of Assembly, on Thursday said legislators needed effective communication skills to be successful.

 
Abiru made the remark at the quarterly capacity building forum for Assembly staff, which had the theme: ‘The Roles of Communication in Institutional Management’.

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seminar was held at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium of the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

 
“The work of a legislator is to talk, and if you don’t know how to effectively communicate, you cannot effectively discharge your duties as a legislator.

 

“So, any officer saddled with legislative responsibility must have good communication skills.

 
“Communication is key in any given institution and it must be unambiguous, succinct and clear, so as not to give room for misinterpretation,” Abiru said.

 
Commenting on importance of feedback in communication, the clerk urged private organisations to allow workers to have unions, for effective communication between the management and staff.

 
He said, “some organisations have outlawed unionism, but in public organisations, we have them. We don’t hamstrung unionism.

 
“Unionism is another good means by which management of any organisation would engage in effective communication with the workers for the overall interest of the organisation.
“Unions of today are not combatants, they are partners in progress; they represent the interest of the people and also the mouthpiece of any organisation.”

 
Delivering a lecture on the theme, Mr Fesus Otabor, the Director of Publication of the Assembly, enjoined the legislators to make use of Hansard of the House.

 
He said that such verbal report would enhance feedback and effective communication.

 
Otabor commended the leadership of the House over the recently conducted Town Hall Meetings in all the 40 constituencies in the state.

 
“Such forum is one sure way of using communication as a tool for effective governance,” he said.

 
Otabor said many institutions were having it rough not only due to paucity of funds or academic incompetence of their managers.

 
According to him, failure to establish an effective communication system that allows free flow of information within and outside their institutions is also a contributory factor.

 

 

 

(NAN)

Senators Deny Boycotting House Of Assembly Vote

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A group of senators, under the platform of the Unity Forum, have rejected the election of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

The legislators, while addressing journalists at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, also refuted reports they boycotted the poll to choose House leaders, as has been widely reported.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Banabas Gemade, said they were attending a meeting with President Mohammed Buhari at the International Conference Centre.

“We did not boycott the inauguration, we were invited to a meeting with President Mohammed Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Gemade said.

He said the members that voted did not constitute a quorum. “When 53 Senators are outside during the nomination it is totally wrong to close the nomination,” Gemade said.

In his reaction, George Akume said the election of Senate President through a ballot without 53 legislators was “wrong. Before we could rush from the venue of the meeting with the President, the election was over,” said Akume.

Credit: CAJ News

Mudashiru Obasa Elected Speaker Of Lagos House Of Assembly

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True to pre-inauguration speculations, Mudashiru Obasa, the lawmaker representing Agege Constituency 1, was on Monday elected Speaker of the 8th Assembly of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Mr. Obasa, believed to enjoy the backing of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, was elected unopposed.  The APC is the majority party in the assembly.

The contest for who heads the assembly was subject of intense horse trading within the APC as various interest blocks pushed for their candidates to emerge speaker.

Last week, negotiations got so intense that the inauguration of the assembly was postponed from Thursday to Monday.

On the floor of the assembly today, Mr. Obasa, a fourth term legislator, was nominated by Olanrewaju Oshun of Mainland Constituency II (who was named as one of the front runners for the position) and Sola Giwa of Lagos Island constituency II seconded the motion.

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Wada Dissolves Kogi House Of Assembly

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Governor Idris Wada of Kogi on Wednesday dissolved the 5th Kogii House of Assembly after completing the statutory four-year tenure from 2011 to 2015.

Wada performed the function at a valedictory session held to mark the end of the assembly inaugurated on March 3, 2011 at the Ibrahim Saba Assembly Complex in Lokoja.

The governor said that the constitution of the country empowered him to dissolve the house.

“I, Capt. Idris Wada, Governor of Kogi State by the powers conferred on me by Section 105(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) today make a proclamation that the 5th Kogi State House of Assembly as presently constituted, having successfully completed its mandate, stands dissolved.”

Earlier, the out-going Speaker, Momoh-Jimoh Lawal said: “For every endeavour there is a time to begin and a time to end…as tenants of the house, we must by the same proclamation, vacate our seats.”

Lawal said that the house had upheld the principle of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the constitution and carried out its oversight functions with the cooperation of other arms.

He said that no particular arm of government could carry out its functions without carrying the others along, adding that the success of one arm was dependent on the other and the failure of one is the failure of all.

“The legal framework makes governance a collective responsibility and cooperation, a crucial element in the administration of state.
The speaker, who was full of thanks to the governor, the legislators and staff, said in spite of daunting challenges, he could say with pride that the house in the past four years had achieved remarkable success.

“We have worked very hard, using the instrument of legislation and oversight machinery to drive the economy effectively and accelerate development of the state.”

Members took turns to make their valedictory speeches.

Credit: NAN

Wike Reopens House Of Assembly Complex In Port Harcourt

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The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike, on Tuesday reopened the House of Assembly complex that had been shut down for almost two years following crisis that engulfed the House.

The reopening of the complex in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital, brought together a crowd of men and women who staged a red carpet reception for the governor of the state.

Although cameramen could not gain access into the complex due to the crowd, the reopening came as a big relief for many people who gathered at the complex to witness the occasion.

The governor told the gathering that the event was in keeping with one of his campaign promises to ensure that lawmakers in the state would no longer have their sitting anywhere else apart from the hallowed chamber.

According to him, the lawmakers will not just be an appendage of government but a functional arm of government.

Ekiti APC Rejects House Of Assembly Results

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The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has rejected the results of the state House of Assembly and vows to challenge at the tribunal.

In a press statement issued by the party secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, The All Progressives Congress said that the election was full of irregularities.

The People’s Democratic Party has won 25 constituencies out of 26 in Ekiti State House of Assembly polls.

Ilejemeje constituency is still on hold over the crisis resulting to ballot snatching and the attack on the officials of INEC.