Some Lagosians have canvassed for improved infrastructure in the state, especially public toilets to stem the increasing challenge of open defecation and check the spread of diseases.
The residents stated this at the Badagry division of consultative forum organised by the ministry of economic planning and budget, to get citizens’ input into the state 2025 budget. It was the final leg of this year’s forum and was held at the Lagos State University Ojo on Tuesday.
At the forum, many residents said the state government should build toilet facilities in motor parks and markets like other modern cities around the world, noting that the recent outbreak of cholera in the state could be a result of open defecation.
Others also want the Lagos State government to subsidy public transportation in next year’s budget. They lamented the current high cost of transport fares across the state since the removal of the petrol subsidy last year.
At the forum, trader and market women leaders called for the enactment of policies to check the high cost of living in the country. They said the masses did not feel the impact of governance and policies because the government was far from the people.
Ifeoma Emesanwoh, leader of the Lagos State Civic Society Partnership, said the state government should make healthcare accessible to the less-privileged in Lagos, stressing that currently, many residents can’t afford healthcare.
“Lagos State has the Ilera Eko Premium Insurance how many people are on it? Let those who want to come on board have access to it, a lot of people can’t because of the price. Let it reach the poor of the poor, that is the problem.
“Lagos State have been giving money, palliatives and the rest to some people, but we don’t know who is benefiting; a lot of the people who need this stuff do not have access to them. We are calling on the state government to make their social protection net more accessible to Lagosians.
Speaking further, she said the Lagos State government must initiate policies that directly impact the people.
“Every year the budget is increasing; we are saying let it also impact on the people; you can’t have yearly budget increase and people are still living below the poverty line. If we have a huge budget, let people see the impact of such a budget.”
Ope George, economic planning and budget commissioner, Lagos, said the forum was to allow the government to know the needs of the people across the five divisions of Lagos, and also present the progress and account of the implementation of the 2024 budget to across the state.
George said the consultation was an ongoing process and that the state government would use the information gathered from the forum for policy formulation for the benefit of all.
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