The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has commended Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for providing the right leadership, especially on deploying e-Procurement system in the State, noting the initiative demonstrates the commitment of the present administration to “Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy” as contained in the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda.
The Head of Service gave the commendation while speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day Annual Procurement Planning Clinic organised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.
Muri-Okunola, represented by Mr. Samson Ajibade, Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office at the event, also commended the Agency for its concerted efforts on sensitising stakeholders on the amended Lagos State Public Procurement Law, pointing out that through hard work, perseverance, commitment and determination, the Agency has left no one in doubt that there is no room for circumventing the Public Procurement Law by any contractor, supplier or service provider doing business with the State Government.
He, therefore, enjoined both the internal and external stakeholders of the Agency to continue to advance the course of good governance in their various offices to engender the confidence of local and foreign investors in the State.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, disclosed that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved the onboarding of the remaining 64 MDAs and 57 LGs/LCDAs of the State on the e-Procurement platform in the Year 2022.
Onafowote added that a total of 107 MDAs have already been onboarded on the e-Procurement platform, stressing that the system has enhanced accountability, competitiveness, inclusiveness and the integrity of the State Government in public procurement.
While describing the Procurement Planning Clinic as the anchor on which the implementation of the approved budget rests, the Director-General explained that the Clinic was organised for the scrutiny and review of the procurement plans of MDAs and LGs/LCDAs in the State to ensure that the plans align with the objectives of Government as contained in the approved budget.
The Director-General also stated that the Agency decided to tag the theme of the event as “Year 2022 Procurement Planning Clinic for Budget of Consolidation”, to reflect the title the renewed commitment of the Agency towards proper implementation of the budget to meet the yearnings and needs of residents of the State as envisioned by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Also addressing the participants at the event, the State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman, Governing Board of the Agency, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, stated that it was in recognition of the enormous responsibilities of the Agency that the State Government has continued to provide the enabling environment for effective performance of its functions.
Dr. Olowo, who spoke virtually, pointed out that the new Public Procurement Bill signed into Law by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is aimed at further empowering the Agency to discharge its duties more effectively and also empowering service providers by increasing the mobilisation fee from 20 to 40 per cent of the contract sum so that they can finance contracts awarded to them with relative ease.
The Governing Board Chairman also explained that the Law cleared some ambiguities regarding public procurement at the Local Government level as Council Managers have been designated as Accounting Officers of their LGs/LCDAs while the Vice-Chairmen have been explicitly named as Chairmen of Local Government Tenders’ Committees.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman, House Committee on Procurement, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Olawale Age-Rauf Sulaiman, urged the Agency to remain on the right track, adding that it should continue to train Procurement Officers to enable them to discharge their duties more professionally.
He also pledged the continued support of the Honourable Members of the Procurement Committee and Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to the Agency to enable it to continue to discharge its responsibilities effectively and efficiently.
The event was attended by Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Government Agencies and other dignitaries.
