PROCUREMENT PROCESS: LAGOS HOS ADVOCATES REGULAR PARLEY WITH STAKEHOLDERS

The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. ‘Bode Agoro, has underscored the need for the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency to regularly interface and engage with the various categories of the Agency’s stakeholders, adding that this would not only facilitate mutual understanding, but also serve as a catalyst for sustainable ease of doing business in Lagos State.

The Head of Service, made the observation on Thursday while speaking at the Year 2024 edition of the Annual Engagement with the Business Community on Procurement Process organised for service providers and other stakeholders by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.

Mr. Agoro, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary, Lagos State Staff Housing Board, Mr. Abdul-Rafiu Fashola, noted that as one of the Agencies driving the vehicle of change and innovations in the State, it is appropriate for the Agency to regularly interface and engage with Service Providers, Civil Society Organisations and other categories of stakeholders to keep them abreast of development in public procurement policies and processes and also receive feedback from stakeholders.

He, therefore, enjoined participants to freely share their ideas and experiences with the Agency to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public procurement system and create a user-friendly procurement system and an enabling environment that would make businesses thrive in the State.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote commended stakeholders of the Agency for their support and cooperation, noting that the Agency could not have made the achievements without the support of its stakeholders.

He, however, averred that a lot of work still needed to be done to further raise the bar of excellence already achieved by the Agency, adding that the event was, therefore, organised to enable the Agency interact and share ideas with stakeholders and sensitise them on the law, policies, processes and procedures guiding public procurement.

Mr. Onafowote pointed out that it is now imperative for service providers who transact business with the State Government to have a good digital knowledge, adding that the manual procurement process involving loads of paper documents being carried from one office to another had become outdated and old-fashioned in Lagos State.

The Director-General disclosed that with 140 Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State already onboarded on the e-procurement platform, service providers are expected to build their capacity in Information Communication Technology to be able to continue to do business with the State Government and its Agencies.

He further stated that the event was, therefore, organised as part of the efforts of the Agency to enlighten stakeholders on the processes and procedures involved in participating in the e-procurement system of the State.

In a goodwill message delivered at the occasion, the Chairman, House Committee on Procurement, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Oluwafemi Apata urged service providers transacting business with the State Government to move with the changing times in the socio-economic environment in which they operate to enable them to benefit from emerging opportunities.

Hon. Apata pledged the commitment of the House to the passage of only bills that would serve the interest of all stakeholders, stressing that the House would not hesitate to amend any section of the Procurement Agency Law that might require an amendment to further enhance the smooth operation of the public procurement system and enhance the ease of doing business in the State.

Sharing his experience on the e-procurement system, a service provider, Mr. Oluwafunmi Fatoki from Mainland Power Limited, explained that the system had made doing business with the Lagos State Government more seamless and transparent, adding that the Agency’s portal is user-friendly when the instructions are strictly followed.

The Olu of Oregun, Oba (Dr.) Olukunmi Akingbola also commended the Agency for making registration and renewal by service providers seamless and stress-free. The traditional ruler stated further that the e-procurement system had reduced the cost of doing business with the State Government.

At the event, presentations were made on Data Protection, the Dynamics of Contractor Registration, Understanding the Bidding Process Using Technology, Understanding Evaluation and the Monitoring Process.

The event, held at NECA House Events Centre, Central Business District, Ikeja, had participants both physically and virtually.