The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, has stated that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration has been investing heavily in training and retraining of public servants in the State because of his strong belief that a skilled and well-prepared workforce is integral to the formulation and successful implementation of policies and programmes required for the transformation of the State into a thriving megacity.
The Head of Service made the declaration in his keynote address delivered at the Year 2024 Capacity Building programme organised for Procurement Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.
Mr. Agoro expressed satisfaction that the huge investment being made by the State Government in capacity building and development of staff has continued to yield very positive results in terms of improved service delivery to the citizenry by the public servants of the State.
While noting that in today’s competitive market, the procurement process of the State Government can greatly influence the operational efficiency and financial stability of the State, Mr. Agoro underscored the synergy of effective documentation, analysis and a comprehensive reporting system in ensuring a dynamic cycle of continuous improvement of the public procurement system of the State.
He, therefore, charged Procurement Officers as custodians overseeing Government procurement-related activities, “To ensure that the public procurement system is used as a tool for development rather than an impediment”.
The Head of Service also enjoined participants at the programme to use the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies as administrators and procurement professionals and contribute to the realisation of the objectives for organising the training programme.
Mr. Agoro reiterated the commitment of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to the provision of quality work tools and a conducive work environment that will enable staff to effectively discharge their duties and responsibilities.
He also commended the Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, for his commitment to organising the event annually. “This commitment ensures that our Officers continually grow in their roles and acquire the necessary skills to fulfil the Agency’s mission effectively”, the HOS stated.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, stressed the importance of documentation, analysis and reporting in public procurement, pointing out that Procurement Officers must, therefore, have a good knowledge of these aspects of their job.
The Director-General also urged Procurement Officers to embrace the culture of continuous learning so that they can demonstrate a high level of professionalism and authority in their profession in the course of discharging their official functions.
Mr. Onafowote pointed out that the Capacity Building programme was organised by the Agency to give participants another opportunity to learn some of the basic things Procurement Officers are expected to have an in-depth knowledge of because they are crucial to success in public procurement practice.
While revealing that the Agency has onboarded a total of 159 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State on the e-procurement platform, the Director-General stated that the huge investment being made by the State Government on digitalization of the procurement process and capacity building of Procurement Officers has continued to yield very positive results in public service delivery.
Mr. Onafowote expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his unrelenting support to the Agency, adding that the Agency remained committed to achieving sustainable ease of doing business and increased transparency and accountability in the conduct of the business of the State Government.
In a goodwill message delivered at the event, the Chairman, House Committee on Procurement, Lagos State House of Assembly. Hon. Samuel Olufemi Apata pointed out that training and retraining of personnel is the life wire of all organised systems and organisations whether in the public or private sector.
Hon. Apata further noted that in view of the importance of capacity building and staff development to organisational and corporate success, no efforts should be spared by employers and organisations on training and retraining of their staff.
He charged Procurement Officers to demonstrate a renewed commitment to the mastery of the rules and policies guiding public procurement, pointing out that having a deep knowledge of their profession would earn them not only respect but also opportunities and special privileges.
The lawmaker also explained that the leadership of the State House of Assembly recognises the fact that an untrained staff can only be a liability to the State Government, adding that there is no room for mediocrity in the Public Service of the State.
He, therefore, pledged that the House would continue to support all efforts of the State Government aimed at ensuring continuous capacity building not only of Procurement Officers but also of other categories of public servants of Lagos State.
Information Communication Technology tools, including laptops, scanners and printers were presented to the 19 MDAs that were onboarded on the e-procurement platform this year to enable the affected MDAs to operate the e-procurement system seamlessly.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency was also presented with an Award of Excellence in Public Procurement Compliance by the Agency at the event in recognition of the Agency’s adherence to due process in public procurement. The award was received by the General Manager of the Agency, Arc. Gbolahan Oki.
Participants at the event were trained on Systemic Tracking in Procurement (STEP) by Dr. (Engr. Kayode Adeleye, a World Bank Consultant. They were also trained on the Inclusion of a Procurement Plan on the e-procurement portal by representatives of Messrs Kehinde Kassim and Co.
The Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, also attended the event.
