Budget 2019: Hon. Adeshina Presents N1.5b ‘Budget of Hope’ To Councilors

Kunle ADELABU

The Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adedeji Adeshina, has presented a budget proposal of One Billion, Five Hundred and Fourteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Thirty-Four Naira and Thirty-Nine Kobo (N1,514,432,034.39) to the Legislative arm of the council.

The estimate of the budget, which was tagged “Budget of Hope”, was presented to the lawmakers on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at a ceremony witnessed by the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikorodu, Alhaji Taiwo Longe, other party chieftains as well as traditional chiefs, party members among others.

He explained that the total projected internally generated revenue for 2019 is N94, 000, 000 .00, which is higher than the 2018 figure.

“The projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for this year shall be N94,000,000. This is higher than last year’s IGR because this administration intends to put in more efforts to promote accountability and prevent any revenue leakages, although, we plan to achieve more than this projected figure.

“A conscious and aggressive revenue generation is our focus this year. Also, in order to boost revenue generation and ensure the realization of our set target, necessary incentives shall be provided to motive our workforce to perform.

“Our enforcement shall be further strengthened through constant review of our Bye-laws to reflect the dynamics of a changing time.”

According to the chairman, the statutory allocation projected for this year stands at #1,389,432,034.39 which represents 92% of total projected revenue.

He stated that the sum of #525,244,415. 48 is expected as the council share from the federation account while the sum of #864,187,618.91 is share from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the local government.

He added that the sum of #446,803,945.39 and #410,078,089,000 have been set aside respectively to cater for the payment of staff salaries as at when due.

For the Overhead expenditure, the Chairman, in his budgetary proposal, explained that:

“In order to facilitate an effective administration, the need to oil the machinery of government can not be overemphasized. To this extent, various sums of money have been allotted to various departments for there daily operations.”

On the Capital expenditure, Adeshina stated that:

“As a mark of our resolute commitment to good governance and enhancement of service delivery, this year’s budget proposal accords highest priority to provision of basic and essential infrastructure while not losing sight on the maintenance of existing ones.

“ To achieve this, therefore, various sums of money have been allocated to different sectors for execution of different projects and programmes that will impact positively on the quality of lives of our citizens ”, he stated.

The Chairman stated further that :

“Therefore, the overall expenditure amounts to One Billion, Five Hundred and Fourteen. Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Thirty-Four Naira and Thirty-Nine Kobo (N1,514,432,034.39).

Furthermore, Hon. Adeshina stated his administration is out to put smiles on people’s faces and make the local government a role model for others.

He listed re-construction of drainage at Itundomiganran, construction / rehabilitation of Schools, provision of boreholes at Itunmeko and other wards, reconstruction of drainage at Olusesi street and execution of projects in all the seven (7) wards within Ikorodu Local Government as parts of the projects to be executed by the council this year.

Other projects are procurement of skill acquisition materials for vocational center, procurement of empowerment equipments for the trainees at the vocational centre, construction of skill acquisition centre, construction of drainage system at Solafun, Anibaba and Sanni Arowolo Streets among others.

On health, Adeshina stated that:

“There will be Free health medical mission exercise, Rehabilitation of health centre, Upgrading of staff clinic at LGA secretariat, Provision of health equipments at the Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Provision of cervical cancer screening materials and Procurement of child health clinic supplies. “

In the area of education, the chairman said that :

“There will be provision of free exercise books, School support services/social welfare, Maintenance of school plant and infrastructure, Provision of boreholes and toilets in primary schools, Establishment of more adult literacy and Provision of school desks and benches.”

While appreciating members of the legislative arm for their support, Adeshina called for more cooperation and understanding between the two arms in moving Ikorodu Local Government forward.

Speaking on security, Hon. Adeshina stated that the council is in constant discussion with the traditional institutions, major stakeholders and various security formations in Ikorodu to stem the resurgence of cultism and cult related activities.

To achieve this,  the chairman revealed that the council and other major stakeholders have agreed on a joint military and other security formations patrol in the division. An exercise he stated would start soon.

He also assured that they have resolved to kick-start the Ikorodu Division Security Trust Fund for the benefit of the entire division.

Hon. Salman Issa Ayobami, the Leader of the Ikorodu Legislative Arm, in his speech after accepting the budgetary proposal from the executive, commended the performance of the 2018 budget which was tagged, ‘Budget of Upliftment’.

“The previous year, you presented to us at our first budget presentation tagged ‘BUDGET OF UPLIFTMENT ’ which, going by the performance of the executive under the leadership of our able chairman,  we all saw the uplifting capacity of the budget in the execution of some major and minor projects within Ikorodu and its environs”.

The Leader stated that many great achievements were recorded in almost all the areas like Works, Housing and Infrastructure, Agric/Rural & Social Development, Community Development Association, Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Primary Health Care, Education and Library Services, Environmental & Waste Management and Human Capital Development.

He stated proverbially that the council shall ensure that the residents, who were lifted up with the 2018 budget, are giving hope for better tomorrow with the proposed 2019 budget.

“When a man falls down and he is being lifted up, all he needs is an assurance of hope for a glorious tomorrow, that means aiming towards better days.”

Speaking on the achievements of the Legislative arm of the council, Hon. Ayobami stated that the legislators have made resolutions that foster development and peaceful co-existence in the council.

“On our part as legislators, we have made several resolutions that foster  development in Ikorodu local government among which is the construction of road drainage at Ayonira & Solafun streets.

“There are also resolutions on conflict within Sabo market, between shop owners and contractors.”

He also revealed that the Councilors are currently embarking on amendment of various bye-laws of the council which he said would be concluded soon.

“In the same vein, we have embarked on amendment of the council’s byelaws and hopefully, the exercise should be concluded in no distant time.”

He assured that the House shall critically look into the budgetary proposal presented by the executive and appropriate judiciously.

“However, we promise to critically look into the budget to ensure no part in the governance of the Local Government is left out uncovered”, Hon. Ayobami assured.

Meanwhile, residents of Ikorodu have commended the council for sustaining the tradition of public budget presentation and also for impactful 2018 budget execution.

Speakers during the session also raised concerns regarding street trading and its attendant traffic gridlock at Ikorodu roundabout garage, security issues in Ikorodu and the abandoned Ikorodu Security Trust Fund during the interactive session at the event.