The Lagos State Government has commenced consultations with residents across the state’s five divisions as part of preparations for the 2027 budget, providing a platform for citizens to present their priorities and assess the government’s response to previous demands.
Speaking at the Y2027 Budget Consultative Forum held at the Multipurpose Hall, Radio Lagos, Agidingbi, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, said the consultations are designed to strengthen citizen participation in the budget process and ensure that residents’ needs are reflected in government priorities.
George said the Ikeja Division forum marked the first consultation for the 2027 budget cycle, adding that the government also used the engagement to account for projects and interventions requested during the previous year’s consultations.
The Commissioner disclosed that Lagos has sustained a budget performance of about 80 per cent in recent years, with the state recording between 79 and 80 per cent performance for the 2026 fiscal year. He added that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue performance stood at about 80 per cent at the latest half-year assessment, compared with the usual annual range of 85 to 90 per cent.
He further put Lagos State’s current real Gross Domestic Product at approximately ₦16.2 trillion, noting that the government continues to track both nominal and real GDP as part of its economic planning process.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Olayinka Ojo, said the consultative forum had evolved from simply receiving requests to becoming a platform for accountability, feedback and improved service delivery. She explained that citizens’ priorities are documented, reviewed and forwarded to relevant government institutions, with approved requests translated into interventions.
Community leaders also commended the process, with the Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Isolo LCDA, Adesegun Olatunde, saying the consultations had encouraged greater grassroots participation. He noted that while not every request could be implemented, communities had continued to see significant attention given to their needs through the budget process.
The Lagos State Government is expected to continue the consultations across the remaining divisions as it gathers residents’ input towards the formulation of the 2027 budget.
