LAGOS — The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, has commenced its annual public consultation series across the state’s five administrative divisions (Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe — IBILE) to gather grassroots inputs for the formulation of the 2027 Appropriation Bill.

Speaking at the opening session of the 2027 Budget Consultative Forum held at the Radio Lagos Multipurpose Hall in Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, emphasized that the initiative is designed to ensure public spending aligns directly with community priorities rather than decisions made solely within government offices.

The ministry noted that the consultative forums serve a dual purpose: collecting new project proposals from community development associations (CDAs), traditional rulers, civil society groups, and trade unions, while providing a public accounting of projects executed in response to feedback received during previous budget cycles.

Priority Areas Raised by Grassroots Stakeholders

• Healthcare Infrastructure: Community representatives and local government officials urged state authorities to increase budgetary allocations to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and expand access to grassroots healthcare programs.

• Environmental Sanitation & Drainage: Stakeholders called for sustained state-level interventions in waste management, primary channel drainage clearance, and flood control measures ahead of coming rainy seasons.

• Roads & Transportation Links: Community groups highlighted critical inner-city and feeder road networks requiring rehabilitation to ease local traffic congestion and improve commercial connectivity.

• Accountability & Tracking: Permanent Secretary Olayinka Ojo assured participants that all submissions would be compiled, evaluated, and routed to relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) during the budget drafting process.