The Lagos State Government has said it will partner with non-government organizations (NGO) and civil society groups as part of measures to attain development in the state.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Samuel Egube, stated this at the weekend during a Lagos State Development Partners Initiative: NGO Summit 2022, held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Egube said Lagos State government under the leadership of Mr Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, places high premium on NGO and civil societies organizations as very important segment of the development partnership in the state, adding that government will bring together all the NGOs across the state, intimidating them on the processes and procedures with the aim to help drive their individual programs and projects from the angle of the "THEMES" agenda.
He maintained that other reasons for the 2022 NGO summit was considered an avenue for the creation of a platform that will allow NGOs and civil societies to have direct contact with government so as to assist the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and other related ministries in its current mandate with development partners in sourcing and coordinating interventions across the state.
"Apart from the afformentioned initiatives and development, the comics together of the NGOs and civil society would afford would enable all stakeholders look at things government is getting right as well as how to improve on it and possibly inculcate new ideas and innovatives. Citizens' participation is key to unlocking Nigeria's potentials. Moreso, when citizens participate in governance, they demand certain development from government",
“We are committed to a collaborative and consultative governance and therefore, this is one of such moves by Mr Governor through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget to interact with the civil society and see what they have been doing in their respective NGOs.
"If you add any valuable ideas to tbe government, it can form part of the budget. Be resilient enough, continue to push agenda, so that government can input it to the Budget, this is doable if we make ourselves available for a forum like this"
“They have been partners with the government in developing and supporting citizens in the society in different ways but we plan to expand this cooperation to promote national development through citizen participation, attracting and retaining top talents and working with the private sector to deliver landmark development projects", Egube said.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Economic Planning and Budget, Aare Adebayo Sodade, said that over 10 million NGOs are in the world, adding that several thousands of those NGOs are based in Nigeria.
Sodade added that owing to the pivotal nature of Lagos State as the melting pot of Nigeria and the peculiar experiences of the Non-governmental/Community -based organization operating in the state, government decided to bring together all the NGOs and intimate them on the processes and procedures of government and ensure direct and continuous conversation with them for better coordination.
"The summit is to bring all the NGOs closer to the government, inform them of the current gap and eliminate duplication of effort and accountability. It would also bring NGOs at par on government policies and decisions so as to create and execute development projects and programs that meet the needs of Lagos residents, Nigerians, Africans and other international citizens geared towards sustainable development, hinged on the Sustainable Development Goals 17 partnership for the goals", Sodade said.
Also earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ibrahim Obajomo, said the NGO summit was an avenue to bring together the grassroots NGOs and form a consortium for better networking opportunities to partner with larger local and international NGOs.
He urged all the participating NGOs to contribute efficiently in a way that will bring about strong relationship between their respective organisation and Lagos State Government, so that Lagos State can get to the promise land.
Also, in her contribution, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Development Partnerships and Economic Planning, Ms Aisha Agbaje, said the NGO summit would afford people know what Lagos do in governance, adding that many people doesn't know the activities of government, talkless of connectiing or think of have anything to do with them.
She maintained that the maiden summit would enable NGOs and the citizenry participate in governance and enable them have direct and continuous conversation with government, thus adding their voice and contributions to governance.
"The interaction would erase disconnect in government and avoid erroneous misconception of I don't know where and how to connect government in case of dishing out idea of developmental initiatives", Agbaje said.
In her presentation, the Special Adviser for Sustainable Development Goals and Lagos Global, Mrs Solape Hammond, urged all NGOs not to distance themselves from government, but rather should find ways to work together.
Hammond urged NGOs to first of all familiarize themselves with the agendas of government, know what they are doing whether right or otherwise, then finally identify how and where to come in and collaborate.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bolaji Dada, who was represented by Mrs Babarinde Itunu, listed the achievements of the ministry in training women in skill acquisition.
“I want to particularly applaud the organisers of this summit, which is the first of its kind, for enhancing women’s proficiency across all strata such that a huge percentage of our women will become financial contributors to economic growth,” she said.
Highlights of the event include presentation of Social Protection Register by the Director, Social Protection Coordinating Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Adedeji, Impact stories by Mrs Eduvie Olutimayin, from Silver Columns Limited and goodwill messages from various Non-governmental organizations at the summit.
One hundred and fifty non-governmental organizations, NGOs, attended the summit.
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment