13th July, 2010
The Lagos State Government at the weekend expressed its commitment to the improvement of its service delivery capacities to the people of Lagos through consistent infrastructural renewal, just as it announced an 80 percent performance of the 2010 Budget.
The Government expressed the commitment as part of its 14-point communiqué after a three-day Retreat by members of the State Executive Council, Body of Permanent Secretaries and some heads of Parastatals and Extra-Ministerial Departments at the Golden Tulip Hotels, Amuwo-Odofin.
The Communiqué said as a consequence, Public Service Agencies such as hospitals and schools would continue to enjoy upgrade of facilities noting that a framework for the maintenance of public infrastructure has been developed to enhance resource utilization and engender value-for-money.
It said in order to continue to provide quality services to the people of Lagos, the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative must be maintained adding that as a further step towards boosting the initiative, Government would partner with tertiary institutions for research, planning and development issues to assist in improving service delivery.
Expressing its determination to improve the capacity of its workforce, the Government urged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to promptly forward their training needs for 2011 to the Ministry of Establishment and Training and Pensions for appraisal, clearance and subsequent accommodation in the State’s Budget.
The communiqué said Government is satisfied with most of the activities of the MDAs that carried out Impact Assessment of their programmes and projects but emphasized the need for adequate documentation and public awareness.
“A more scientific and verifiable performance appraisal strategy would be put in place to determine the promotion of Public Officers in the Stateâ€, the communiqué said adding, however, that Government would cut down on recurrent expenditure and focus more on Capital Projects to impact more on the standard and quality of life of Lagosians.
The communiqué said the 2010 Budget has so far recorded an 80 percent performance adding, however, that there is need for improved performance from all Revenue Generating Agencies of the State.
Urging Ministries, Departments and Agencies to strictly operate the 2010 Budget, the communiqué warned that any form of budgetary indiscipline would be sanctioned
On the issue of its Independent Power Project, the Government said it is resolute in supporting the project to address the problem of power for industrial and other productive ventures adding that dedicated sites would be created with necessary facilities for artisans such as those engaged in furniture works, metal fabrication and block-making in the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
The communiqué advised all its agencies having direct dealings with the public to improve their public /human relations.
The three-day Retreat, Chaired by the State’s Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), according to the communiqué, “allowed for robust deliberations and self-appraisal on the activities of some agencies of Government including the Ministries of Housing and Health, the Lagos State Government Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Signage and Advertisment Agency (LASAA) respectivelyâ€.