Ambode may re-order N489.69bn 2015 budget

Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode may present to the assembly, a bill for the re-ordering of N489.69 billion, 2015 Appropriation Budget.

A reliable source told our correspondent that the governor had been having meetings with stakeholders and relevant government officials with the aim of working out modality for the budget re-ordering.

The reordering became necessary in view of the present economic realities and to accommodate the attendant effect of the restructuring in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in the state. A similar measure was taken in 2014 when the then Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, re-ordered 2014 Appropriation Bill to the tune of N11.66 Billion which arose as a result of increased need to spend a little more than anticipated on the delivery of state projects.

Ambode who is a Chartered Accountant, has been working within the budget estimates since assumption of office and with the reordering and subsequent approval of the state assembly, as well as executive signing into law, the pace of implementation is expected to intensify as MDAs could then access the full estimates provided for them in the budget.

Meanwhile government officials have attributed the slow pace in the execution of government business to absence of kitchen cabinet and the re-structuring exercise in the state.

It was gathered that due to single treasury account being operated in line with the governor’s directive, it has been difficult moving cash from the treasury for various execution of work.