Professionals seek inclusion in policy execution, monitoring process

Governments at various levels have been charged to include professionals in the planning and implementation of policies for the sustainable development of the country.

Besides, the professionals also implored the three tiers of government to lend listening ears to professional bodies with the intent to assist the government in facilitating projects’ execution for the benefits of Nigerians.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to The Guardian headquarters in Lagos, on Tuesday, President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Bolarinde Patunola, called on government to use professionals even in the monitoring execution processes to achieve better results.

However, Patunola, noted that due to the neglect of professionals, many government projects were being abandoned due to lack of proper monitoring, noting that there should be a third party the society can see and use as an assessment point of whatever the government is doing.

“There are things we expect the government to do, which they have not done. It has not been easy to hear and receive responses from them. We hold our programmes, we send communiqués after our yearly programmes to them with follow-ups, but we don’t get responses. There are things we want to give out to the nation as professional bodies, even when we offer to go and do it; we book for appointment but there are no acknowledgements, we go back to our shell,” he said.

Patunola noted that there must be proper planning before the execution government’s projects can be effective, rather than seeking professional advice only when problems arise.

Besides, he argued, there are professionals to partner with the government in the design and development of programmes, and planning of budget so they can make inputs. “When it comes to implementation, we also like to be there. The private professionals are all across local government in the country.

“Recently the government proposed 10, 000 housing units in each state of the federation; we have written letters to government on how to engage professionals in the design, preparation of contracts, and costing, but when we wrote to them, we didn’t get any response to such applications.

“As a body, we want the government to call on us and hold us accountable. We are ready to give the best advice in implementing its projects,” he said.

He noted the association at the national level is working on ensuring that government responds to the initiatives of professional bodies, noting that partnering with the media would enhance their positions.