By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Ebun Sessou

Lagos—the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday synthesised a uniform budget template for  the 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, of the state.

The House, through the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget last week approved this year’s budget estimates for the councils, following the report of a seven-man ad-hoc committee.

The committee headed by the Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru, directed all the Council representatives to appear with relevant documents  including Capital Receipts, Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, details from January till date, breakdown of the Budget overhead  details of teachers’ salaries and bank statements.

According to him, the report revealed excessive overhead estimate in the budget of the 57 councils over the years which has negative influence on the state’s capital expenditure.

Abiru  reiterated that the purpose of the report is to prepare a uniform template for LGs and LCDAs and urged the council to give priority to capital expenditure that will enhance physical development at the grass roots.

As at yesterday, at least seven of the 57 councils  have appeared before the committee for an  exercise  expected to end next week.

Members of the Committee include, Bisi Yusuff, Yinka Ogundimu, Adekanye Oladele, Mojeed Fatai, Lawal Mojisola Lasbat and Alimi Kazeem.