Lagos assembly frustrates Ambode’s bid to present budget

The Lagos state house of assembly on Monday frustrated the bid of Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of the state, to present the 2019 budget.

Unlike in the last three years when the exercise went smoothly, the governor met brick wall in his attempt to lay his last budget before the lawmakers.

Ambode had contacted the lawmakers that he was set to present the budget but he was not given the opportunity.

When around 3pm, there were signs that the appropriation bill would be presented, journalists trooped to the assembly.

But 20 minutes later, an official at the assembly briefed the reporters that the presentation would no longer hold.

“I know you are journalists and here for your job but the budget will not be presented today,” he said.

“The speaker and the lawmakers are having a private session and would not like to see people at the lobby.”

As of the time of filing this report, the advance team of the governor were still within the premises of the assembly while the parliamentary session is ongoing.

Ambode’s relationship with the lawmakers went cold after he fell out with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

There had been reports of attempt to impeach the governor but Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the assembly, has denied this consistently.

Shortly after he lost the governorship ticket of the ruling party to Babajide Sanwo-Olu who has the support of Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the party, and key APC members in Lagos, the assembly reviewed the waste evacuation policy of the state without consulting the governor.

Ambode had disengaged the PSP operators following the introduction of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, through the Visionscape Sanitation Solution Limited but the assembly overruled the governor in October and directed the PSP operators back to work.