The Lagos State Government has commenced consultations with residents across the state’s five divisions as part of preparations for the 2027 budget.
The exercise is aimed at identifying the priorities of residents while also reviewing the government’s response to demands submitted during the previous budget consultation.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, disclosed this on Monday at the 2027 Budget Consultative Forum for the Ikeja Division, held at the Multipurpose Hall of Radio Lagos in Agidingbi, Ikeja.
George said the Ikeja consultation marked the beginning of engagements that would be held across the state.
He said, “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.”
According to the commissioner, the process has also been designed to allow the government to report back to residents on how their previous requests were addressed.
He said the government had presented residents with an account of projects and interventions carried out in response to demands raised during the last consultation.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olayinka Ojo, said the exercise had evolved beyond merely collecting requests from residents.
She explained that the consultations now provide a platform for feedback, accountability and evidence-based engagement between the government and communities.
Ojo said video presentations showing completed and ongoing projects had been introduced to enable residents to assess the progress of interventions linked to previous demands.
She added that requests submitted during the current consultations would be documented, assessed and forwarded to the appropriate government agencies for consideration.
According to her, demands that are prioritised and approved would subsequently be incorporated into government interventions through the budget process.
Ojo also urged residents and community leaders to take an active role in monitoring projects implemented in their communities, saying this would promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
The consultations will cover areas including social protection, data management, monitoring and evaluation, budget implementation and economic planning.
A member of the Lagos State Community Development Council executive and Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Isolo LCD, Adesegun Olatunde, described the consultation as beneficial to communities.
Olatunde, who said he had participated in the exercise for nearly eight years, acknowledged that not every request could be implemented because of competing priorities and unforeseen circumstances.
He, however, said, “At worst, 70 per cent of what we request is attended to, which shows a pass mark.”
He also commended the inclusion of artisans, youths and community representatives, saying their participation allowed different groups to present their needs to the government.
“It is good. If you see everybody here, we have the artisans, the community, the youth; they are all here to give input. Because everybody is important in this state,” he said.
The state government is expected to continue the consultation exercise across the remaining divisions as it develops proposals for the 2027 budget.
