Lagos Speaker Obasa stresses budget review transparency, urging lawmakers to scrutinise the 2026 appropriation bill with diligence and accountability

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, has urged lawmakers to place budget review transparency at the heart of their scrutiny of the 2026 appropriation bill recently presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

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He made the call during a three-day budget retreat at the Park Inn by Radisson in Abeokuta, where members gathered to examine the proposal with renewed commitment.

The retreat, held from 26 to 28 November, centred on the theme Budget of Shared Prosperity: Enhancing Accountability and Transparency in Lagos State Budget Process.

It brought together all lawmakers, select legislative staff and senior aides to deepen understanding of key fiscal issues while strengthening the Assembly’s role in shaping a people-centred budget.

Obasa told participants that the governor had done “an incredibly thorough job” in preparing the proposal, but reminded them that the Assembly must ensure that the allocation of public funds aligns with the needs and aspirations of Lagos residents.

He emphasised that their responsibility required efficiency, empathy and unwavering conviction, noting that credibility is earned through consistent transparency.

He warned legislators against overlooking irregularities or yielding to undue influence, stressing that consequences would ultimately return to their constituencies.

He said that effective oversight would curb waste and demonstrate that lawmakers serve with integrity. His words carried a powerful reminder that public trust can only be sustained through honest, diligent scrutiny.

The retreat also aimed to speed up the review process while equipping lawmakers with deeper analytical tools.

Speaker Obasa insisted that the state’s finances must always be managed with the public good in mind, describing the budget as a shared opportunity to reinforce Lagos’ development trajectory.

Expert facilitators delivered practical insights into fiscal planning, tax reforms and strategic oversight. Mr Olufemi Orojimi, Director of Budget at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, analysed the 2026 strategy in the context of the 2025 performance.

Dr Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, examined the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Assembly’s crucial oversight role.

Yomi Olugbenro, West Africa Tax Leader at Deloitte, explained legislative responsibilities within Nigeria’s evolving tax landscape with remarkable clarity.

Other speakers included Muhammad Sani Abdullahi of the Senate Public Accounts Committee; Olusegun Mojeed, former CIPM Nigeria president; and Ifeanyi Peter, National Team Leader for the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement.

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Their contributions strengthened the Assembly’s readiness to deliver a thorough, transparent and timely review of the 2026 Appropriation Bill—an effort Obasa described as vital to sustaining shared prosperity across Lagos.