Micmary Hall in Alapere, Ketu Lagos State was fill to the brim on Friday, 15 November, 2024, as Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area held its Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on 2025 Budget, reports TheGazelleNews.com.
Speaking at the well attended Forum with the theme ‘Budget of Advancement’, the LCDA Chairman Mayor Oshinowo spoke on the importance of community involvement in budget process.
He said in all aspects, in all sectors, “we need to advance it. That is the reason why we target budget of advancement. We need to make sure that we continue from where we are coming from, where we stop, so that we continue to provide the necessary needs to residents of the LCDA.”
According to Oshinowo, without the engagement of stakeholders, “the budget process would lack inclusivity, noting that by the time they submit their requests, we will look at them, determine what we can achieve with it and prioritized them accordingly.”
The council executive added that, “It is a tradition every year, there is a budget circle and preparation for making a budget, and for it to be a successful, there is need to bring people from all walks of life, stakeholders who voted them in office to govern them, to hear from them aqnd know their contributions towards the budget process.”
Oshinowo added that after this, the next step will be a budget retreat where all management departments will discuss what part of the budget or request we need to adopt this time around”
While highlighting the importance of historical data in informing budget decisions, Oshinowo added that certainly, “we will look at where we were in previous year and look at the trend. There is going to be historical data that will show us what we are going to expect next year”.
Oshinowo, who stated that this year’s Stakeholders’ Forum on will be his last in office, promised his commitment to the community development.
“This is our last project, and in the next 6 to 7 months, we will be leaving office, our priority is to continue to advance our giant stride in empowerment in all sphere of works, meeting the needs of the people in the areas of health, providing infrastructure among others,” he said.
A member of the Lagos State House Assembly(LSHA) representing Kosofe State Constituency 2, Honourable Femi Saheed showered praises on the LCDA boss for his intimidating budget performance, which, according to him has reflected in the development of all the nooks and crannies of the council.
Expressing confidence in budget 2025, Saheed acknowledge the state government support under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“We thank Governor Sanwo-Olu for his wonderful support for the administration of Mayor Oshinowo to help him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the residents of Agboyi- Ketu LCDA, ” Saheed, Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, said.
The lawmaker, who urged residents of the LCDA to continue to support the state government and the administration of Oshinowo, said the stakeholders forum is aimed at forging ahead with planning for 2025, leveraging on the council’s successes in health, security, empowerments, provision of infrastructure, among others.
