The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reacted to the procurement record released by the State Public Procurement Agency (PPA), saying, no administration was immune to mistakes.
Speaking at the inauguration of a newly built operational headquarters of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) in Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu explained that officers in the state have come out to show that there could be mistakes on some items in the records released by the PPA.
He said, “We can make mistakes on some items and we are open to criticisms.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration is facing criticisms over what is considered ‘outrageous’ spending by his government.
Reacting to the released procurement records, the governor welcomed the open letter by the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos, Funso Doherty; assuring that his government would continue to publish its spending and keep it open for public scrutiny.
Mr Doherty had in his letter urged Lagos State government to consider its priorities in spending taxpayers’ money.
He quoted in the letter, how N2bn was approved for the ‘provision of supply items such as rechargeable fans, lights and fridge in the office of the deputy governor, as well as N30m for “monthly outreach of indigent citizens by the wife of the deputy governor,” and “another N30m awarded for monthly empowerment programmes of the wife of the deputy governor.”
Doherty also stressed the need for the governor to scrutinize and review projects awarded for the second and third quarters of 2023 by the PPA.
He further alleged that N18.5m was awarded to the office of the chief of staff to the governor for the ‘supply and distribution of 2,000 noiler chicken across the local government areas and wards in the state’.
While speaking at the inauguration event, Sanwo-Olu said, “Over the weekend, we saw on social media how some people can politically turn around all of our attempts to be responsible, transparent, and committed to good governance. We don’t have a problem with any individual.
“We acknowledged that this is the way it should be. We appreciate the fact that people can look at us in the face and say you need to do well in this area. We also don’t have problem with the originator of the open letter, we like him and we thank him. Indeed, if we are seen as a government that is transparent and responsible, we should not shy away from criticisms.
“It is only when criticism is malicious and misrepresenting the truth, that is there will be a problem. Officers in the state have come out to show that there could be mistakes on some lines of items. There was a particular issue where an item was meant to be N2m but was written as N2bn.
“There are many discrepancies that have been corrected by PPA. We are not going to join issues with anyone on social media. All we are committed to is continuous service to the people of Lagos,” the governor assured.
The public procurement agency had earlier in its reaction expressed commitment to ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accountability in all government transactions, as mandated by the Lagos State Public Procurement Law.
Also the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat had denied that his office received more than N2bn for the provision of rechargeable fans, rechargeable lights and fridge.
