16th February, 2022
The Lagos State Head of Service, HOS, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the right leadership he has been providing on the deployment of e-Procurement system to the procurement process of the State.
He noted that this demonstrated the commitment of the present Administration towards “Making the State a 21st Century Economy” as contained in the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda.
The Head of Service who was represented by Mr. Samson Ajibade, Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, gave the commendation on Tuesday while speaking at the opening ceremony of the three-day Annual Procurement Planning Clinic organised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.
Muri-Okunola also commended the Agency for the concerted efforts it has been making in sensitising stakeholders on the amended Lagos State Public Procurement Law.
He pointed 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.
Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, disclosed that Sanwo-Olu has approved the onboarding of the remaining 64 MDAs and 57 LGs/LCDAs of the State on the e-Procurement platform in 2022.
Onafowote added that a total of 107 MDAs have already been onboarded on the e-Procurement platform, stressing that the e-Procurement system has enhanced accountability, competitiveness, inclusiveness and the integrity of the State Government in public procurement.
He described 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 LGAs/LCDAs of the State to ensure that the plans align with the objectives of government as contained in the approved budget.
Onafowote 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 governor gave the 2022 Budget and also reflect the renewed commitment of the Agency towards a proper implementation of the budget to meet the yearnings and needs of residents of the State as envisioned by Mr. Governor.
The Director-General, therefore, stated that the Agency would intensify efforts towards further deepening the culture of due process in public procurement and ensuring compliance with the Procurement Law and relevant regulations and guidelines of the Agency.
Also addressing the participants at the event, the Commissioner for Finance in the State 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 ensure that the Agency is given the enabling environment it requires for effective performance of its functions.
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 mobilization fee from 20 percent to 40 percent of the contract sum so that they can finance contracts awarded to them with relative ease.
Chairman, House Committee on Procurement, Lagos State House of Assembly, Olawale Age-Rauf Sulaiman, urged the Agency to continue to remain on the right track, adding that the Agency should continue to train Procurement Officers to enable them discharge their duties more professionally.