Mixed reactions have continued to trail the 83 per cent budget performance the Lagos State Government announced on July 11.
While the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) lauded the budget performance, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described it as far-fetched.
Gov. Babatunde Fashola had in Ikeja announced the rating at the 2013 budget half year appraisal.
He said the performance represented a 22 per cent increase above the first quarter figure of 61 percent.
The 2013 budget of N499.6 billion, comprising N269.87 billion for capital projects and N88.95 billion for recurrent expenditures, was approved by the State House of Assembly in December 2012.
The State Chairman of CNPP, Mr Akinola Obadia, described the budget performance as “a groundbreaking record.’’
“Roads and other projects we thought had been abandoned are now at various completion stages.
“The government has really buckled up. The budget performance is commendable,’’ he told NAN.
But the PDP said the performance rating was unconvincing and also amounted to “self-praise.’’
“The opinion of the party is echoed and premised on the fact that not only has Gov. Fashola performed so abysmally, the so-called developments in the state are meagre,’’ the party said in a statement.
The statement was signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani.
It challenged the state government to organise a media tour of the projects so far executed, to justify the 83 per cent budget performance.
“We continue to wonder whether areas such as Ayobo, Igando, Makoko, Ajeromi, Ejigbo, Ifako-Ijaiye and others are still part of Lagos State, considering the bad roads in those areas.’’
