The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos, Funso Doherty has called on the state government to explain and give justifications to the recent revelation on its procurement process.
Doherty, who made this call on a live ARISE television broadcast on Monday morning, noted that the revelation touched the nerves of the people; hence, the heated argument in the public space, saying that he did not manufacture the data.
He suggested that there should be improvements in the procurement process of the state, describing procurement agency fees as a conflict of interest that would affect its independence and objectivity.
According to him, his expectation from the government is to make the right decision, judicious use of public funds always in the interest of the public, stating that in the long run, the fruits of those actions will be revealed in the lives of the people.
“Lagos State Government needs to explain to the people regarding its procurement process that is generating heated arguments in public space. It is not as if we manufactured anything. It is just the basic data that we put out.
“And when you look at the reactions of the people, you would know that it has touched the nerves of the people. And it is important for any responsible government to respond to the people on where there is need for explanation and justification.
“But, more importantly, I think there should be improvements in the procurement process.
“The Procurement agency gets an admin fee on each of the procurements and that is conflict of interest and would affect their independence and objectivity. There is evidence of that in some of the things that we are saying. I think these structural things which create incentives for people should be removed.
“What I expect the government to do is to make the right decision, judicious use of public fund always in the interest of the public. And in the long run, the fruits of those actions will be revealed in the lives of the people.” He said.
On the high cost of living in the state, Doherty blamed the government for poor management which informed its inability to manage the effect on the average people.
The gubernatorial candidate noted that decent means of public transportation across the state, reasonable healthcare system, affordable educational system and so many others could have eschewed the state from its challenges of high inflation rate.
“Lagos being a commercial centre generating income and taxes brings with it a responsibility of government to manage those things because if government manage those things well the effect of this on the average person can be ameliorated.
“This can be done by having decent means of public transportation across the state, reasonable healthcare system, affordable educational system and so many others. That the cost of living is higher in a financial or capital city and the rest of a nation is not an unusual circumstance.
“If we have a situation where the cost of living is marginally higher in Lagos than the cost of living in Ibadan for instance but the average person could have a reasonable standard of living.
“I don’t think everybody will be complaining. I think the issue has to do with the actions, inactions and outcomes of governance over the year.
“We are in a situation today where people’s standard of living are declining rather than going up. Yes cost of living in Lagos will be higher but what it does is raise the bar for anybody Governing the city of Lagos. You have to realise that to whom much is given much is expected,” he said.
. TheWitness
