At NBCC’s forum, Fashola seeks private sector partnership in governance

LAGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has called for more private sector involvement in governance, for Lagos to emerge a true mega city in Africa. 

  Fashola stated this while addressing business men and women at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Business Roundtable in Lagos at the weekend.

  Speaking on the topic: “Public Sector’s Expectation on the Business Community”, Fashola admonished the business community to surrender to the power of government for the good of all, absence of which he said could lead to anarchy. 

  He said it would be very difficult and tasking if everyone has to generate power, build health facilities, construct roads, provide security, among others, which are the major responsibilities of the government.

  Fashola emphasized the need for the public to connect to the government by paying tax for effective service delivery. 

  He said   agencies of the government now have help lines with which the public can get through to the government.

  The President NBCC, Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, in his remark, described Fashola as a pacesetter and exemplary leader with the level of development Lagos has witnessed during his administration and urged coming administration to sustain the development process

  Adefulu also called for more public-private partnership to deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizens. 

  He cited Japan and Britain as example of countries that carried the private sector along in the process of transforming their economies.

  He said: “We are the natural partners to the government. We in NBCC are ready to partner with the government to further transform the state. We want to sell Lagos and Nigeria to the world.”

  The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock said the time has come for private and public sectors to work together for economic prosperity of Nigeria. 

  He said government has responsibility to the people which must be kept to sustain public trust.