SGF, Sanwo-Olu urge South-West to maintain synergy

A community of practice and policy engagements on critical issues of youths and development have been recommended for the consideration of Secretaries to the State Government in South West at a forum in Lagos

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at the Opening of the Maiden Meeting of  South West Secretaries to the State Governments Forum held on Thursday at Ikeja, urged the forum to focus on what can be done with youths in the region especially as there are challenges with the quantum of often negative information available.

He stated that there was a strong basis for interactions, experience sharing and harmonization of policies, processes and produces aimed at building regional integration.

Recalling their role as the Cabinet Affairs Office, the Governor urged them to remain the bastion of loyalty and promote conditions that will ensure that policies and programmes are followed through by incisive analysis and impact measurements. ​ ​

According to him, “the import of this special gathering is that it is beneficial for ideas and knowledge to be shared and cross-pollinated in this modern times.”

He disclosed that Lagos State is implementing the idea of a “DashBoard” for monitoring of projects and programmes of the government citing the example of EKO EXCEL among others.

In his keynote address, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, called on the Secretaries to the State Government to adopt a “Community of Practice” that will see them take up the monitoring and implementation of policies with a view to measuring impact.

He noted that at the federal level, the Cabinet Affairs Office had introduced a performance management system that allows the clear monitoring of all projects and programmes of the Government and backs outcomes.

While recommending the same to the Forum, Boss Mustapha said a “DASHBOARD” located in their offices and those of their principals will surely improve the ability of the government to monitor deliverables.

He added that lack of openness and transparency of government business is easily combated and tons of reports are short-circuited for action when such a board exists. The SGF also disclosed that a conference to consider a National Community of Practice for the Cabinet Office will be hosted in the first quarter of 2020.

In her remarks, the Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji described the theme of the meeting, “Leveraging Good Governance in Managing Cabinet Affairs Offices” as very apt saying it will afford the forum the opportunity to rub minds, share knowledge and experiences on the methods and working strategies in the different states. ​

She added that, as governments, there is the need for effective collaboration on governance issues that would engender a better and shared understanding of complex problems involving the people and work together to proffer credible solutions, which is the way policymakers can identify and target problems and deliver action more effectively.

Also delivering a goodwill message, the Deputy British High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Peter Thomas, promised continued support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the various reform efforts initiated by the State Government in the South West and DAWN Commission.

He said, “I will be recommending that we send more of our people, based in Lagos and Abuja, to visit the South West to better understand the challenges you face and the opportunity to work together.”

He said the High Commission will through its PERL programme continue to deliver reforms on issues of regional resonance in such areas as Government Policy Development, Open Government Partnership and Legislative Advocacy.