Ambode Fails To Present 2019 Budget To Lagos Assembly Despite Widespread Rumour

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State failed to show up at the state House of Assembly on Monday 21st January, 2019 to present the 2019 budget against the expectations in many quarters that he would present the budget on the day.

Rumours had gone round the city amongst newsmen and some other members of the public that the Governor would be presenting the budget before the Assembly.

Early callers to the Assembly had reported that the security details of the Governor were seen around the assembly premises early, thus confirming the information over the issue.

The waiting game continued with some lawmakers, who spoke under anonymity, telling journalists that the issue would be handled the way the Governor wanted it to be.

While they did not confirm if the Governor had notified the Assembly of the presentation, the lawmakers stated that it was possible the Governor would be presenting the budget on the day.

This continued till around 2pm, when the assembly siren that normally alert the lawmakers of the sitting blew severally.

Another indication that the Governor would be presenting the budget the arrival of the Public Relations Officer in the office of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and the reporters covering the Governor's office under the auspices of Lagos State Government Correspondents Association (LAGOCO) stormed the assembly shortly before the sitting began.

However, the lawmakers, who had earlier gone for parliamentary (closed door meeting), later came out after about one hour discussion to attend to other matters without discussing the budget, while Governor Ambode or his emissary did not show up for the budget presentation.

It will be recalled that the Lagos State House of Assembly had insisted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state must appear before it to present the 2019 Budget as required by the law.

This followed the information read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Mr. Azeez Sanni intimating the lawmakers that his office received a message from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dated Monday 17 December, 2018, but which he received on Friday 28th December containing the 2019 Budget.

However, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who commended the lawmakers for their reaction to the message, stated that this was not the time for resentment, acrimony and agitation, adding that the stake before the lawmakers was beyond 2019. 

"We must do everything to sustain our government, party and the state. You have all shed light on the issue in a matured matter. 

"We went on break on 18th December, 2018. The first call I received on the budget was on 24th December that the Governor was willing to present the budget on that day. 

"We normally go on break for six weeks, but we went on break for two weeks as we were waiting for the budget. 

"Also, we received the budget on 28th December, when we were waiting for the New Year break. 

"There is no reason to shift the blame on the House that we were not willing to receive the budget," he said.

Obasa added that the lawmakers were willing to receive the 2019 budget, saying that this was one of the reasons they were elected into office.

The Speaker however, said that this must be done properly by the Governor in accordance with the Section 121 of the Nigerian Constitution that he said states that the budget must be presented to the House before the end of a financial year.

"We are ready to receive the budget if it is done properly. We have no resentment, we have no bad blood. 

"Our stake is beyond 2019. What we have here is not even a letter, it is presentation of budget by the Governor. 

"The executive headed by the Governor must be ready to present the budget and we are ready to receive it," he said.

It will be recalled that Governor Ambode had generally been unable to ensure early presentation of any of his budgets so far. 

His first budget for 2016 was presented on December 17, 2015; while he submitted his second slightly earlier on November 29, 2016.

Ambode’s predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, generally presented his budget before December. 

His last four budgets were presented to the assembly on November 14, 2011; October 31, 2012; October 30, 2013; and November 24, 2014.

That’s not to say that there were no times when Fashola presented budgets in December. 

His first budget was presented on December 17, 2007 – coincidentally, the same day Ambode submitted his first in 2015. His only other December budget was the 2011 budget (an election year) which was presented on December 14, 2010.

Under Fashola, the budget hovered between N400 billion and N500 billion between 2008 and 2014. 

However Ambode’s first budget of N662.59 billion was a 35.31% increase over Fashola’s last budget of N489.69 billion. The governor’s second budget of N812.99 billion was further 22.7% increase over that  2016.

Governor Ambode on Monday  December 11, 2017 presented the state’s 2018 Budget proposal of N1.046 trillion to the House of Assembly, with a pledge that his administration will make every effort to complete all ongoing projects as well as initiate new ones to consolidate on the development recorded in the last 30 months.

Governor Ambode, who christened the 2018 Budget “Budget of Progress and Development”, said it would be used to consolidate on the achievements recorded in infrastructure, education, transportation/traffic management, security and health sectors.

The Lagos governor’s budget proposal is the highest ever in the state’s history, and the second-highest in the country after Governor Ben Ayade’s proposed N1.3 trillion for 2018 in Cross River State.

Ambode said the 2018 budget would also focus on mandatory capacity building for civil servants, all teachers in public secondary/primary schools, officers in the health service sector and women & youth empowerment alongside Medium and Small/Micro Size Entrepreneurs (MSMSE’s).

While members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the residents of the state are awaiting the 2019 Budget, it is expected that Governor Ambode would give it all it takes "and give residents of Lagos State a lasting partying gifts in form of people-oriented budget."