The Lagos State House of Assembly has dismissed as misleading and mischievous claims that it budgeted for the purchase of houses in Abuja for its members in the 2026 Appropriation Law.
The rebuttal was contained in a joint statement issued on Tuesday by the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, chaired by Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, and the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, chaired by Sa’ad Olumoh.
The lawmakers described the report as a deliberate and disturbing falsehood being circulated by what they termed “patently ignorant people,” insisting that no such provision exists in the 2026 budget.
“There is no provision whatsoever in the 2026 Budget for the purchase of houses in Abuja or anywhere else for members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. The report is a complete fabrication and a product of political mischief intended to misinform the public,” the statement read.
The Assembly further noted that it does not operate in Abuja, stressing that its constitutional responsibilities, constituencies and legislative duties are entirely domiciled in Lagos State.
“It is illogical, irrational and irresponsible for anyone to suggest that legislators would appropriate public funds for personal housing outside their jurisdiction,” the statement added.
The lawmakers emphasised that the 2026 budget is already in the public domain and open to scrutiny by Lagosians and Nigerians, reiterating that the Lagos State Government runs a transparent budgeting process designed to meet the complex needs of a growing megacity.
According to the statement, the rumour forms part of a broader attempt at election-season propaganda aimed at eroding public trust, sowing discord and maligning democratic institutions.
The chairmen also clarified that the Assembly’s capital expenditure for 2026 accounts for less than 0.04 per cent of the state’s total capital expenditure, underscoring what they described as the legislature’s culture of prudence, accountability and fiscal responsibility.
“Historically, the House does not even access up to its approved budget in many fiscal years,” the statement noted.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, good governance and the collective welfare of Lagos residents, the Assembly said its operations remain aligned with the objectives of the 2026 Budget of Shared Prosperity.
The lawmakers challenged those behind the allegation to present credible evidence or retract the claim, warning that failure to do so could attract appropriate legal action.
They urged Lagosians and the general public to disregard what they described as a baseless rumour and to always verify information from official and credible sources.