Lagos Seeks Residents’ Input for 2027 Budget

The Lagos State Government has commenced consultations with residents and other stakeholders as part of preparations for the state’s 2027 budget.

The exercise, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, is designed to allow residents to identify pressing needs in their communities and make recommendations on projects, programmes and policies they want prioritised in the 2027 Appropriation Bill.

The consultation process is being conducted across Lagos’ five divisions, known as IBILE — Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe.

The first forum was held in the Ikeja Division at the Multipurpose Hall, Radio Lagos, Agidingbi, with the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, leading officials of the ministry.

According to the state government, the consultations are intended to ensure that budget priorities reflect the needs of residents rather than being determined solely within government offices.

Residents to Influence Development Priorities

The government said the forums would provide communities with an opportunity to present their priorities and recommend areas requiring greater attention in the coming fiscal year.

Participants include traditional rulers, Community Development Committees and Associations, professional bodies, religious organisations, civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, trade associations, youth and women groups, private-sector representatives, people living with disabilities and members of the public.

The ministry is expected to document the requests and use the feedback from the various divisions in determining development priorities for 2027.

The process also gives the government an opportunity to identify issues peculiar to individual communities, rather than relying solely on broad state-wide priorities.

Government Gives Account of Previous Requests

The 2027 consultation is also being used as a platform for the government to report back to communities on projects and programmes raised during previous budget consultations.

George said the government had returned to residents to explain what had been done with requests made during the previous engagement before receiving fresh demands for the 2027 budget.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olayinka Ojo, described the consultation as more than a platform for submitting requests, saying it had evolved into an avenue for feedback, accountability and evidence-based engagement between the government and communities.

The ministry has also used project presentations to show residents completed and ongoing interventions arising from earlier consultations.

Residents Demand Greater Focus on Healthcare, Sanitation

During the Ikeja consultation, some community stakeholders called for greater attention to healthcare and environmental sanitation in the 2027 budget.

They particularly advocated increased investment in primary healthcare, arguing that stronger healthcare services at the grassroots could improve access to treatment and reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

Stakeholders also called for improved waste management and environmental sanitation, citing their importance to public health and the quality of life of residents.

Some community representatives said a significant proportion of requests made during previous consultations had received government attention, although they acknowledged that not every demand could be implemented because of competing priorities and unforeseen developments.

What the Consultation Means for Lagos Residents

For residents, the significance of the exercise will ultimately depend on how effectively their submissions are translated into actual projects and services.

Public participation can help government identify problems that may not be adequately captured through administrative planning alone. But the process also raises an important question of accountability: how many of the priorities presented by residents will eventually appear in the approved 2027 budget, and how many will be implemented?

The Lagos State Government has said the consultation process is part of its commitment to inclusive governance and shared prosperity.

The engagement is expected to continue across the remaining IBILE divisions as the state works towards finalising its 2027 budget proposals.

For VOP TV, the central question is not simply whether residents have been given an opportunity to speak, but whether their priorities will be reflected in the 2027 budget and ultimately translated into projects and public services that improve everyday life across Lagos.