IN it quest to ensure accountability and efficiency in the system, the Lagos State House of Assembly has hinted of plans to involve the public in capital project execution and budget implementation process.
The House Committees on finance and business which have already declared their readiness to spearhead this drive, said the civil society community in the state would now work in partnership with the legislature to observe key processes involved in budget formulation and implementation in recognition of its oversight functions.
Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, while receiving a coalition of civil society organisations (CSO’s) led by the Coordinator of Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), by Mr Ayo Adebusoye and State team leader of State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI), Obanubi Felix, during a courtesy visit in her office, expressed her committee members’ commitment to collaborate with CSO’s in order to deliver efficient services to the citizens.
Tejuoso, who earlier frowned at the uncoordinated posture of CSO’s in the state, said with the proposal for close partnership initiated by LACSOP, a platform under which key civil society organisations in Lagos State operate, would go a long way to harmonise the relation-ship between the government and the people.
She said the new working relationship would further enable both parties track the numerous World Bank grants meant for development of critical sectors of the economy and ensure the funds were judiciously utilised.
According to her, the tripartite proposition of LACSOP, which will include the media, was essentially designed to produce the desired result as the public wold be adequately acquainted with governance.
Before now, the state legislature has been inundated with avalanche of self serving requests from unknown groups claiming to be CSO’s despite the austere nature of the House, the chairman complained.
Also, Honourable Ladi Balogun, Vice Chairman, Committee on Rural Development and Agricultural Cooperation, and a member of the Finance Committee, expressed deep concern over the pattern of expenditure with regard to various World Bank loan to the state.
Balogun tasked the coalition to exert more energy under the new partnership arrangement to monitor how the funds had been put into use as well as challenge the state on budget appropriation.
In another development, Chairman House Committee on Business, Honourable Adeyeye while receiving the team said the proposal was a paradigm which the committee would sustain.
Adeyeye expressed hope that the new partnership would bring about sustainable development in the state.
In his opening remark, Ayo Adebusoye of LACSOP asserted that the partnership would radiate confidence and optimism.
Adebusoye said with the CSO’s involved in budget appropriation and implementation and in the process of law making, every aspect of decisions taken would be promptly remitted to the people for their input to erase suspicion over sincerity of government.
Earlier, State team leader of SAVI, Mr Obanubi Felix, informed the committee that assessment carried out by the coalition recently observed a major disconnect between the government and the people which informed the proposal seeking for a harmonised CSO, media and government cooperation.
