Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made a brisk unscheduled appearance at the ongoing 3-Day Budget Retreat for members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The retreat is being held at Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja where the focused 40 lawmakers, led by inspiring Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, are carrying out their constitutional duty of incisive scrutiny over the budget.
Recall that Theliberationnews reported that Sanwo-Olu presented an appropriation bill of N2.246trn to the legislative arm on Wednesday for the 2024 fiscal year.
In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu, described the lawmakers as the best in the country as he reveled in the cordial relationship between him and Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa. This is as he commended the lawmakers for raising the bar of legislative excellence in Nigeria beyond common standards.
The governor thanked the speaker, lawmakers, the assembly commission and staff of the House for always putting Lagos first before other considerations.
His words: “This is the best and finest and it is worthy of emulation. I want to thank you and say this is indeed how we should always organise ourselves and keep raising the bar.
“What Lagos is doing shows that we are leading the way for other states to copy. We show the way in legislative, executive and judiciary affairs. This is an avenue for you to bond, interact, appreciate one another and effectively do the job that Lagosians have asked us to do.
“There is the talk around town that we have a big budget, but I also tell them it is because we are big people. I appreciate the fact that you have huge responsibility and I pray God to give you the ability and courage to do the work dispassionately.
“Whatever is the outcome, you can rest assured that the governor will stand by it and work with you. There is no animosity between the Speaker and myself. We are two different sides of the same coin. We are brothers and friends, and God will lead us to a level where we can take Lagos to an irreversible state.”
Describing the governor as a leader, brother and performer, Obasa noted that Sanwo-Olu had always supported the House to carry out its functions.
Obasa said: “He has always answered our calls at every point in time. Thank you for coming to check on us and for everything you have been doing. We also thank you for not being like other governors who seal up the Assembly complex or remove roofs of Assembly buildings. That is why Lagos is great and the House of Assembly is above the common standards of excellence.
“We are working on the 2024 budget, and that is why we are here. I want to assure you that we will do our best to return the approved budget to you as soon as possible. It is going to be a New Year present to you and the people of Lagos.”
