LAGOS BEGINS Y2027 BUDGET CONSULTATION AS RESIDENTS SEEK MORE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
… Records About 80% Budget Performance, IGR
The Lagos State Government has begun consultations with residents across the state's five divisions as part of preparations for the 2027 budget, with stakeholders commending the process for giving residents a chance to influence government priorities and provide feedback on previous interventions.
Speaking at the Y2027 Budget Consultative Forum held today at the Multipurpose Hall, Radio Lagos, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, said the annual consultation provides the government with an opportunity to listen to residents, understand their priorities and incorporate their needs into the budget preparation process.
According to him, the Ikeja Division forum marked the first consultation for the 2027 budget cycle.
“Every year, we go around our IBILE Divisions to listen to our citizens and hear what they want to see in their upcoming budget. So, we have started the preparation for the 2027 budget. This is the first of our consultations at the Ikeja Division, and we're here to hear from our citizens as to what they'd like to see in their 2027 budget,” he said.
George explained that the consultation also enables the government to give residents feedback on demands made during the previous year's engagement and report on the level of implementation.
“This year, we've come in; we've given an account of what they asked us for last year. And we've shown them what we've done. And they've given us what they want for the new budget going on. So, every year, we come and give an account. That's how we start. We start by giving an account of what they asked us last year and what we've done,” George said.
The Commissioner also provided an update on the state's 2026 fiscal performance at the forum, saying Lagos had sustained a minimum budget performance of about 80 per cent over the past few years. He said the state was, as of the latest assessment, recording about 79 to 80 per cent budget performance for the 2026 fiscal year.
On Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Commissioner said the State had also maintained a strong performance, usually recording between 85 and 90 per cent within the year.
He disclosed that the state was at about 80 per cent IGR performance as of the latest half-year assessment. “Now, in terms of our IGR, we always perform close to 85-90% of our IGR within Lagos State. So, as of our last half-year, we're also at 80% now for our IGR”.
On the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), George said Lagos' real GDP was currently estimated at ₦16.2 trillion, noting that the state tracks both nominal and real GDP.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, in her welcome address, said the consultative forum had evolved beyond merely receiving requests to becoming a platform for feedback, accountability and
She said citizens' views, requests and priorities expressed during the consultations were documented, reviewed and transmitted to the appropriate institutions, with prioritised and approved requests translated into government interventions.
Ojo also highlighted the role of community leaders in strengthening grassroots engagement, particularly through Community Development Committees and Community Development Associations across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the state.
The Chairman, Community Development Committee, Isolo LCDA and an EXCO member of the Lagos State Community Development Council, Hon. Adesegun Olatunde, who commended the process, said he had participated in the consultations for close to eight years, stating that the level of government response to requests made by communities had encouraged stakeholders to continue participating.
According to him, although not every request could be implemented, communities had seen substantial attention given to their demands through the budget implementation process.
“Most times it's positive. There are other things that might come out unexpectedly, which has to be attended to during this section. So we've been coming for years now. I've been coming for close to eight years. And I tell you, at worst, 70 per cent of what we request is attended to, which shows a pass mark,” he said.
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