*Says they are pivotal to delivering dividends of democracy
*Lagos HOS complains of inadequate utility vehicles, office space
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, tasked heads of parastatals and government owned companies to explore new avenues and cutting edge innovations to create enabling environment that would foster investments and the state’s growth.
Sanwo-Olu said this at the one-day parley between him and heads of parastatals/ government owned companies across the state put together by Parastatals Monitoring Office held at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, The Secretariat, Alausa, Lagos
The governor, noting that the event was organized to discuss the trajectory of future developments in the state, urged heads of agencies and government owned companies to provide real leadership, embrace innovation, creativity and foster the wellbeing and welfare of the people.
Sanwo-Olu stated that heads of agencies play pivotal role in providing the leadership that will facilitate the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people through efficient and effective implementation of government policies and programmes.
He said: Parastatal organisations are established with a mandate to address specific developmental issues that hinges directly on the welfare and well being of the people such as waste management, water supply, housing, transportation, etc. This therefore means that the success of any administration will largely depend on how efficient and effective such parastatals deliver on their mandate.
“In recent times, the global landscape has presented us with unprecedented challenges, demanding that we adopt innovative approaches to increase government revenue. As stewards of public resources, it is incumbent upon us to explore new avenues and embrace cutting-edge solutions that will optimize our financial capabilities. By doing so, we can ensure that adequate funds are available for the timely and effective implementation of critical projects that directly benefit our people.
“Furthermore, I want to emphasize the importance of accountability and transparency in our operations. The Parastatal Monitoring Office serves as a vital mechanism for ensuring adherence to established protocols and standards. I urge all parastatals to fully cooperate with this office, as its oversight function is instrumental in promoting good governance and fostering public trust.
“Collaboration is the cornerstone of progress, and it is essential that we forge strong partnerships across all sectors. By leveraging our collective expertise and resources, we can synergize efforts towards achieving our common goal of sustainable development. The success of our endeavors hinges upon the seamless coordination and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr Olabode Agoro, thanked the governor for his support in achieving tremendous progress and transformation across the state, restating the commitment of the government to advancing the course for growth in the state.
Agoro, however, told the governor to look into some of the issues bothering agencies and parastatals.
He listed the issues to include overlapping mandate; need to update and review some laws that established some agencies for clarity of functions; inadequate utility vehicles and office space; and constitution of governing board.
Presenting a paper on transforming parastatals/agencies in to agile organisations for greater efficiency, the guest lecturer, Professor Lere Bale urged the participants to embrace technology to reduce corruption, engage people and put in place processes for effective transformation.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, General Managers of Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Olajide Lawal, that of Traffic Radio, Tayo Akanle, and Lagos Television, Adesola Kosoko, among others.
