Lagos council targets social devt in N10.1bn budget

The Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area in Lagos State on Monday presented a N10.1bn budget for 2026, with more than half earmarked for capital projects, including roads and bridges. The plan, expected to go through passage at the legislative chamber in the coming weeks, also prioritises security and measures to boost internally generated revenue.

The proposal, submitted by Executive Chairman Adetola Abubakar to the council’s Sixth Assembly, follows a three-day budget retreat from December 8 to 10. The retreat, themed “Budget of a New Dawn,” brought together councillors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to finalise allocations, discuss revenue strategies, and review departmental spending.

Participants had said the exercise was designed to align the council’s resources with community priorities while strengthening transparency, inclusiveness, and participatory governance, with outcomes from the retreat feeding directly into the proposals now before the legislative council.

Presenting the appropriation bill, Abubakar described the N10.1bn budget as a practical reflection of residents’ needs and the administration’s resolve to deliver visible development across the LCDA.

“We have just presented the 2026 budget proposal to the legislative arm of the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA. This budget, which we have described as a Budget of a New Dawn, has a total size of N10.1bn,” the executive told reporters.

She explained that about 51 per cent of the budget is devoted to capital expenditure, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on infrastructure and long-term development, while approximately 49 per cent is allocated to recurrent expenditure to sustain essential services.

According to the chairman, the budget emerged from extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation. “The people of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA should expect the very best from this budget. It is a true reflection of their needs and aspirations. We held extensive stakeholder engagements and consultations to ensure that the voices of our people were heard,” Abubakar said.

“We have felt their pulse and listened carefully to their demands. The issues they raised have been captured in this budget and will be addressed in 2026. As a result, residents should expect proactive actions across different sectors.”

On internally generated revenue, Abubakar said several measures have been introduced to strengthen collections and improve efficiency. She disclosed that revenue buses will be deployed to area offices to ease operations, while new mechanisms are being put in place to eliminate revenue leakages and ensure that all taxes and levies are properly remitted into the council’s accounts.

“This will enable us to better meet the needs of our people,” she said. Security, she added, remains a top priority for the administration. While commending security agencies in the LCDA for their diligence, she announced plans to further support them.

“In the coming days, patrol vehicles will be handed over to the security agencies to enhance their operations. This will further strengthen their capacity to provide effective security and protect lives and property across the LCDA,” she said.

Addressing residents, the chairman assured them of her commitment to service delivery. “From the first day I assumed office, I hit the ground running, and I will not relent in my commitment to serve you,” she said.

“I am determined to ensure that the needs you have placed before this administration are fully addressed. I assure you of growth, development, and positive change. Please remain patient and supportive as we work to deliver the best for Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Lagos State.”

Responding on behalf of the legislature, the Leader of the House, Adekunle Aderoju, said the budget signalled a forward-looking agenda anchored on infrastructure and social development. “Today’s presentation focused on the fact that we are moving forward. Awareness is rising, and there are expected and ongoing infrastructure developments, along with other initiatives that will positively affect the lives of citizens in our cities,” he said.

Aderoju noted that several initiatives under the administration’s agenda have already commenced, including interventions in education, family-focused programmes, and infrastructure projects such as road and bridge construction.

“These projects were initiated within a short period, and their impact is already becoming evident,” he said.

On timelines, he assured residents that the legislature is committed to fast-tracking ongoing and planned projects. “We understand the urgency, and by the grace of God, within the next few weeks, progress will be very visible,” he said.

He also pledged the legislature’s commitment to ensuring the full implementation of the budget, adding that it would be given speedy passage once deliberations are concluded to address the needs of residents.

“By prioritising it, we intend to give it speedy passage so it can effectively address the needs and aspirations of the people who elected us to serve them,” Aderoju said.

He urged residents and business owners to cooperate with the government by fulfilling their civic obligations. “It is important that individuals and businesses pay their taxes and rates. This will enable the government to generate sufficient revenue to provide essential services and take better care of the people,” he said.

The Majority Leader, Councillor Rahman Tahir (Ward B), described the appropriation bill as the legislature’s first major assignment since members assumed office on July 28, noting that the process had been demanding but rewarding.

“This is our first budget in 2025 and also our first major assignment since we assumed office. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey so far, and we are hopeful that the period ahead will bring progress, prosperity, and renewed hope,” he said.

Tahir said the budget reflects the council’s determination to address critical needs while laying the groundwork for sustainable development. “The proposals in the budget were carefully considered to ensure they align with the expectations of the people,” he said.

He emphasised the inclusive process behind the document, noting that everything captured in the budget resulted from the three-day retreat and subsequent consultative meetings. “During these sessions, we invited contributions from all relevant stakeholders to ensure broad participation and informed decision-making,” he said.

According to him, the retreat enabled lawmakers and stakeholders to collaborate, identify priority areas, and agree on sector-specific interventions. “Each sector highlighted the areas it intends to focus on, so that progress can be clearly seen and the people can feel the impact of governance,” he added.

On implementation, Tahir assured residents that the legislature is determined to ensure the budget delivers visible change. “Our goal is to build momentum, introduce meaningful reforms, and ensure that resources are deployed in ways that truly improve lives,” he said.