LAGOS HOLDS 2025 PUBLIC PROCUREMENT SUMMIT, FOCUSES ON IMPACT OF NEW TAX LAW

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The Lagos State Government has organized the 2025 edition of the Lagos State Public Procurement Summit with the theme: “Understanding the Impact of the New Tax Law on the Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services.” The event was held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

Delivering his goodwill message, the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, represented by Permanent Secretary Public Service Office, Mrs. Oyegbola Sunkanmi said  that as public officers, it is imperative to understand the implications of the new tax reforms—particularly as they relate to digital compliance, tax registration, and cost management in the execution of government projects.

He noted that a clear understanding of the new tax law would not only improve compliance but also enhance fiscal discipline, reduce waste, and ensure better value-for-money outcomes in public spending. Mr. Agoro stressed that compliance with tax and procurement laws is not optional but a duty, adding that synergy between both frameworks is vital for achieving the State’s objectives of sustainable revenue growth and prudent resource management.

He urged public servants to continue upholding the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and accountability in the discharge of their duties. “Every officer involved in procurement must be guided by professionalism and an unwavering commitment to the rules and procedures established under the Lagos State Public Procurement Law,” he advised.

Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Procurement, Hon. Samuel Apata, noted that lawmakers recognize effective procurement practices as key to achieving sustainable development and delivering quality services to citizens. He affirmed that the Lagos State House of Assembly remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote best practices, compliance, and value-for-money in government contracting.

Delivering his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Oluyomi Abayomi, represented by Mrs. Bisola Dina of the State Treasury Office, described the newly enacted tax reform as one of the most comprehensive in recent years, with far-reaching implications for both public and private institutions.

He explained that the law introduces key changes in procurement that affect contract administration, vendor compliance, cost management, and fiscal planning. It also reinforces the need for greater collaboration between procurement professionals and tax authorities to ensure compliance and efficiency in the use of public funds. He pledged the Ministry’s continued support to the Agency in building capacity, enforcing compliance, and fostering innovation in line with global best practices.

Mr. Abayomi commended Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his exemplary leadership, under which Lagos State was recently recognized as “Best in Procurement Practice in Africa” at the 2025 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, commended the Agency for upholding integrity and transparency in public resource management. He urged participants to engage actively in the summit’s discussions and propose innovative strategies that would improve tax compliance and procurement efficiency.

In his welcome address, the Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, stated that the objective of this year’s summit was to provide a platform for policymakers, procurement professionals, tax experts, and industry stakeholders, to engage in robust discussions on the implications of the new tax reforms and to explore strategies that ensure compliance while maintaining efficiency and value-for-money in government contracting.

He emphasized that the discussions were crucial to ensuring that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as government partners in the private sector, understand the operational, financial, and legal consequences of the new tax framework.

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Kogi State, Barr. Ehimoni Sunday Joshua, commended the Lagos State Government for organizing the timely summit and called for continued harmonization of procurement practices to reinforce the role of procurement as a tool for economic stability, transparency, and national development.

The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Tax Reform, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who joined the event online, explained that the tax reform was designed to make business operations easier, particularly by providing exemptions to support the growth of small businesses. He noted that preferential benefits would be granted to local contractors who are tax compliant and that there would be harmonization in the collection of taxes and levies.

Also speaking virtually, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (Federal), affirmed the BPP’s pride in collaborating with Lagos State and assured of continued partnership.

The event was attended by top government functionaries, heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, delegates from other states’ Bureaus of Public Procurement led by the Chairman, Forum of DGs of Public Procurement, as well as other esteemed speakers and panelists.