Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s proposed 2024 budget of N2.246 trillion must be designed to effectively address the economic challenges facing Lagos State and improve the quality of life for residents.
In this regard, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has called for a strategic approach that goes beyond mere distribution of packaged foodstuff to alleviate poverty.
The budget breakdown indicates a capital expenditure of N1.224 trillion and a recurrent expenditure of N1.02 trillion. To ensure the successful implementation of government policies, the speaker urged the employment of more people while advocating for effective youth engagement through sports and related activities.
“It is highly important for us to apply the right indices towards ensuring a performing and functioning budget that would lift our people out of poverty and reposition the state towards infrastructural growth and renewal.
“Palliatives should move from just giving people garri, rice, beans or even money. We should have a direction that is focused, impactful and deeply backed up by effective policy implementations.
“For instance, in the name of palliative care, let there be provision of drugs at all public hospitals in the state at subsidised rates. At the same time, focus should be on a downward review of treatment costs in these hospitals.
“Also, provision of subsidised school materials should be encouraged. In like manner, raw food merchants who bring food items from the hinterlands should be put into consideration. The Government can help subsidise their transportation system too. This will in turn lead to a crash in the cost of food prices and make them affordable,” he said.
