Lagos Assembly passes 2026 budget amendment bill

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Appropriation (Amendment) Bill into law, allowing the state government to adjust its budget priorities and speed up the execution of major capital projects.

The passage followed a request from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu seeking the Assembly’s approval to reorder priorities in the state’s 2026 budget.

The governor’s letter was read to lawmakers by the Clerk of the House, Mrs Adenike Oshinowo.

Following the presentation, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa referred the request to the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget for consideration before the amendment was passed into law.

The committee is chaired by Lukmon Olumoh.

Presenting the committee’s report, Olumoh said the level of budget performance had necessitated a review of the state’s implementation strategy, particularly to ensure a more targeted approach to capital investments during the remaining months of the fiscal year.

He said, “The reordering of priorities will accelerate project execution and improve the overall performance of capital expenditure, while responding to current demands and emerging needs across the state.”

Olumoh also disclosed that the proposed amendment included an increase in the state’s bond issuance from N150 billion to N200 billion to fund critical infrastructure and other development projects.

Among the projects captured in the revised priorities are Phase II of the Blue Line Rail Project, covering the Mile 2 to Trade Fair Station corridor, as well as the completion, furnishing and equipping of the new Massey Street Children’s Hospital.

Other projects include the completion of the 280-bed General Hospital in Ojo, construction of the Ketu Ejirin Psychiatric Hospital, completion of the Omu Creek project and the purchase of housing units.

The committee chairman said the revised priorities would also cover the provision of drainage systems across the state, environmental, sanitation and maintenance programmes along the Coastal Road, the re-fleeting of operational vehicles for waste and traffic management, as well as waste management and landfill infrastructure.

Provision of security and emergency equipment and the Zero Tolerance for Potholes initiative were also listed among the projects to receive attention under the reordered budget.

Contributing to the debate, Aro Moshood stressed the need for effective legislative oversight, saying laws passed by the Assembly must be backed by proper monitoring to ensure compliance and implementation.

Moshood urged members of the House to take their oversight duties seriously, adding that the executive must adhere to the provisions of the amended appropriation law.

“Funds must be applied strictly to the approved priorities to ensure effective implementation of the amended budget,” he said.

The lawmakers subsequently considered and adopted the committee’s report before passing the bill.

Following the passage, Speaker Obasa directed the Clerk to transmit a clean copy of the bill to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his assent.

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