Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi. This suspension follows a public incident where Ajetunmobi misrepresented certain facts concerning a past event, which he shared on his personal "X" (formerly Twitter) account. The statement regarding the suspension was made available on Tuesday morning through the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.
The official statement clarified that the suspension was due to Ajetunmobi's actions, which mischaracterized key details about the incident in question. The Governor’s office made it clear that such behavior was not aligned with the values upheld by the Lagos State Government. The statement further emphasized the Governor’s strong stance against any form of extrajudicial punishment, stressing that the Sanwo-Olu administration does not condone such actions and will not participate in any form of misrepresentation. Governor Sanwo-Olu's office reaffirmed that this incident does not reflect the principles of his administration, saying, “That is not who we are. That is not our way.”
In the same week, the Lagos State House of Assembly convened on Monday to deliberate the 2025 appropriation bill, which had been presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the lawmakers the previous Thursday. The proposed budget is valued at ₦3.005 trillion. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the session, directed that the bill be referred to a joint committee on appropriation and finance for further in-depth review. The committee was instructed to report their findings back to the House within a month to allow for further discussions and possible adjustments to the budget plan.
During the deliberations, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, the Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, presented a breakdown of the proposed budgetary expenditure. He raised concerns regarding the projected ₦408 billion deficit financing in the budget, noting the importance of careful scrutiny and sustainable financing methods. Olumoh emphasized that while loans can be beneficial when used responsibly, there needs to be a more cautious approach to avoid over-reliance on borrowing. He urged his colleagues to consider alternative models, such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), to help finance the budget more effectively and avoid wastage. He also advocated for a realistic budget that accounts for Lagos’ true financial capabilities, suggesting that such an approach would ensure long-term sustainability for the state’s development. Despite his concerns, Olumoh commended the government’s intentions and expressed his appreciation for the overall direction laid out in the proposed budget, acknowledging the Governor’s efforts in laying out a detailed fiscal plan for the state’s continued growth and progress.
