Arobieke urges public servants to adopt global thinking

Yetunde Arobieke

Lagos State Commissioner for Local Governments and Community Affairs, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke has admonished officials of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State to rise above the traditional constraints and old ways of accomplishing tasks and begin to think globally while taking decisions adaptable to the local environment for the achievement of the development agenda and blueprint of the State Government.

The Commissioner gave the advice while speaking at an advocacy programme organised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (PPA) for Chairmen, Council Managers, Council Engineers, Council Treasurers and Procurement Officers in Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas of the State at the Eko FM Marquee, LTV Complex, Ikeja, Lagos.

Arobieke commended the management of the Agency for organising the event, noting that the programme was designed to equip participants with the requisite knowledge and skills in procurement and contract management procedures.

She averred that an efficient and effective public procurement process is a necessary condition for excellent service delivery and good governance.

The Commissioner further noted that the establishment of the procurement agency had assisted the government in pursuit of its development agenda, which she said, was built around the economy, infrastructure, social development, security and a sustainable environment.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, stressed the need for those charged with the responsibility of implementing the Procurement Law to be more diligent and conversant with the emerging trends in public procurement.

Represented at the occasion by Mrs. Toyin Machado-Onanuga, the HoS added that the involvement of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (I.C.P.C.) and the Code of Conduct Bureau in the Advocacy programme to enlighten the participants on the importance of compliance with all relevant provisions of Procurement and other relevant Laws and Regulations underscored the government’s commitment to due process, transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the General Manager, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Idowu Fatai Onafowote, explained that the Agency organised the event as part of its mandate to regularly update the knowledge of public officials at the Local Government level and sensitise as well as deepen their understanding of the procurement processes and procedures.

Onafowote further explained that the Public Procurement process will be incomplete without input from all stakeholders like the State Government, Local Governments, the Public Procurement Agency, Contractors and Suppliers, Non-Governmental Organisations and the Public.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Mr.  Kolade Alabi stated that despite not being an advocate of financial autonomy for local governments in the country, he subscribes to the idea of decentralisation and devolution of powers to local governments.

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