Lagos Assembly passes 2020 appropriation bill of N1.168 trillion

• Accuses Dangote trucks of damaging state roads
• LASCOPA to prosecute POS users over N50 extra charge

Lagos House of Assembly has passed the 2020 budget of N1.168 trillion.

The passage followed the presentation of a report by the joint committee of the House on Appropriation and Finance to the chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Gbolahan Yishau.

The presentation took place during plenary yesterday when the house dissolved into Committee of Supply comprising all the lawmakers, with the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, as chairman.

The approved budget contained 78 amendments as recommended by the joint committees and approved by the house through a voice vote conducted by Obasa.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had presented the appropriation bill on November 8, 2019 with education and healthcare taking the lion’s share.

Sanwo-Olu announced that the budget would be funded from a projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.071 trillion, adding that the deficit put at N97.53 billion would be financed through internal and external loans.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has indicted trucks belonging to the Dangote Group in the continuous damage of roads in the state.

In a motion moved by Abiodun Tobun, the house resolved to call on Dangote Group of Companies to perform its social responsibility role by supporting the state government in the construction and repairing of roads in the state.

When he was asked to be specific by the speaker, Tobun said: “The most guilty of the trucks are those belonging to Dangote Group of Companies. They damage the roads in the state with impunity, so they should be called to order, and the company should assist in repairing the roads in the state.”

The house also called on Sanwo-Olu to direct the State Treasury Office (STO) to ensure that contractors were not paid if they failed to meet agreements.

Tobun, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, stated the need to ensure good roads in the state.

His words, “The house is further concerned that after most of the roads were repaired, heavy duty vehicles ply the roads. We should urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to ensure that contractors are not paid mobilisation fee unless they are ready for the work.

“The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure should also ensure that only contractors with requisite experience are given jobs.”

In another vein, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has threatened to prosecute retailers and Point of Sale (POS) users charging consumers extra N50 for the use of their POS.

General manager of the agency, Mrs. Kemi Olugbode, said yesterday that it had become necessary in view of the numerous complaints received from consumers on POS charges.

According to her, the extra N50 charge from consumers for making use of POS services for various transactions amounts to unscrupulous exploitation, which is not allowed under the Consumer Protection Law.