The year 2021 budget of Lagos State is consistent with the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of the Governor and it is designed to prioritise the completion of inherited ongoing projects across the State.
The total budget size is N1.164trillion and will be funded from a total revenue estimate of N971.028billion, comprising the following: Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N723.817billion; Capital Receipts of N71.811billion and Federal Transfer of N175.400billion. The Budget 2021 is christened “Budget of Rekindled Hope”.
Presenting the Year 2021 Budget Analysis: Facts Behind the Figures, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Samuel Egube noted that a significant percentage (N512billion) of the projected IGR is expected to be contributed by Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
“We shall achieve this by expanding the tax net, by simplifying the tax process, improving our transaction taxes and the appropriate use of technology, and improving the work environment, training and tools of our tax administration personnel. This will improve the efficiency in operations of all revenue-generating agencies”, he said.
“We believe that there are huge revenue-generating opportunities in the State, including real estates, transportation sector and our markets generally, etc. We will continue to use data and intelligence to unravel revenue opportunities and leakages.
“We have continued to maintain a relatively conservative posture in our projections for Federal Transfers/Receipts compared to our annual run rate in 2020 in view of the production challenges within the oil sector by keeping our expectation at N175billion.
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“The deficit of N192.494billion is projected to be funded by a combination of internal and external loans”, the Commissioner told the media stakeholders at the Facts Behind the Figures roundtable. He noted that the external borrowings will be in Naira to hedge against FX, while internally the State will issue bonds.
Other members of the Lagos State economic management team at the event include: the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; Commissioner for Finance,
Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo; Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde; and Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, among others which includes Permanent Secretaries, etc.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the year 2021 appropriation bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly for consideration and assent on Tuesday November 10, 2020. The bill was subsequently passed on Tuesday December 29, 2020 by the Lagos State House of Assembly and signed into law by the Governor on December 31, 2020.
The 2021 budget of Lagos State is tagged “Budget of Rekindled Hope” to reflect the government’s determination to rise above the challenges that have affected the State’s development indices in the last 11 months. The budget demonstrates the the State Government willingness to overcome all obstacles and deliver all electoral promises to Lagosians.
Capital expenditure takes the Lion Share in the 2021 budget. While recurrent expenditure is N460.587billion, the capital expenditure is N702.935billion. Capital expenditure accounts for 60 percent of the total 2021 budget size while recurrent expenditure is moderated at a level of 40 percent of the total expenditure. This is a big leap forward compared to 55:45 ratio of capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure in 2020 budget.
“This budget is a story of a strong cabinet with a strong leader in the person of the Governor”, Egube said.
Breakdown of the recurrent expenditure shows: Total Personnel cost (N168.726billion), Total Overhead Costs (N260.074billion) and Debt Charges (N31.787billion).
The commissioner noted that the year 2021 budget is meant to accomplish the Governor’s THEMES Agenda. He noted that in 2020, the State achieved overall budget performance of 86 percent and total revenue performance of 93 percent.
The budget will address 10-point objective which includes: continued aggressive development and maintenance of infrastructure across the State; creation of employment and the enhancement of food security; improvement of civic participation, inclusion and cooperation in governance; intentional investment in human capital development – that is education and healthcare; the strategic deployment of functional technology in public service; improving the State’s capacity to collect due revenues as efficiently as possible; the attraction of investments through public-private partnerships (PPP); the improvement of the State’s healthcare systems, the environment, as well as public spaces; improving youth engagement, participation and empowerment; and the rebuilding of Lagos following the #EndSARS protest
