By Francis Ogwo
Despite the impediments caused by the ravaging COVI-19 pandemic, about N432.6bn was generated by Lagos State government as revenue, which was 81% of its projected revenue.
The state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Sam Egube, disclosed this at the 2019/2020 yearly Press Week Lecture of the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents (LAGOCO), with the theme, “Rethinking Lagos for the Post-COVID-19 Era.” on Thursday.
The Guest Speaker at the event, Egube, was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Economic Matters, Mr. Lekan Balogun, and said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had been able to re-strategise to conform with the demands of the present realities.
According to him, a good government is one with the ability to respond when disturbances and crises arise. He added that the review of the budget was, among others, necessitated by lower GDP growth decline in demands for goods and services, and a shortfall in revenue generation.
He disclosed that the review in the state’s budgetary plan was effected to maintain a strong response to the effects of the pandemic on food, ensure job creation, economic stability, and economic reforms for ease-of-doing-business.
The Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, noted that despite the COVID-19 crisis, “governance never stopped in the state.”
In his remarks, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, applauded the governor for showing exemplary leadership despite the attendant challenges, saying: “Lagos has excelled very well to redefine the way we do things.”
In a related development, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) disclosed that it had, in collaboration with Department of State Services (DSS) and the FRSC, arrested 25 officials of Vehicle Inspection Office, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Motor Vehicle Licensing Authority (MVLA) and others in connection with alleged drivers’ licence and vehicle particulars fraud in Lagos State.
This, according to ICPC, was aimed at sending signals to the public that no one is above the law.
