By kayode Olopade
Public procurement has been placed at the centre of Lagos State’s economic strategy for 2026, with top government officials and lawmakers warning that the success of the Budget of Shared Prosperity depends largely on disciplined, transparent and strategically executed procurement processes.
This position was repeatedly emphasised at the 2026 Procurement Planning Clinic organised by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in Magodo, where key actors across the executive, public service and legislature converged to align procurement planning with the state’s fiscal and development priorities.
Addressing participants, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Agency’s Governing Board, Abayomi Oluyomi, described procurement as the “engine room” of budget delivery, stressing that even the most well-designed fiscal plan would fail without effective implementation.
He said the 2026 Budget of Shared Prosperity was deliberately crafted to ensure that economic growth translates into tangible benefits for residents, but warned that intent alone was insufficient.
According to him, procurement determines how public resources are converted into roads, schools, hospitals, security infrastructure and jobs, making it a strategic economic tool rather than a routine administrative function.
Oluyomi cautioned that weak planning and poor compliance could erode public trust and undermine service delivery, while transparent and efficient procurement would stimulate local enterprise, support inclusion and strengthen confidence in government.
He reminded procurement officers, accounting officers and heads of parastatals that they carry heightened responsibility under the 2026 budget, describing them as custodians of due process and gatekeepers of public resources.
He added that the Ministry of Finance would continue to support procurement reforms through improved budget credibility, stronger cash management and expanded digital platforms to enhance accountability, while warning that shared prosperity cannot be achieved if procurement excludes local content, weakens small and medium-scale enterprises or compromises quality.
Echoing these concerns, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, warned that weak procurement planning remains a major threat to effective service delivery in Lagos State.
He said procurement sits at the heart of public sector performance, serving as the mechanism through which policies and budgets are translated into programmes that affect the daily lives of Lagosians.
Agoro, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Office of Internal Audit, Mrs Monsurat Titilope Alaka, stressed that procurement planning must be treated as a strategic responsibility, noting that poor planning leads to delays, waste and inefficiencies, while sound planning promotes timely execution, cost control and value for money.
He said the leadership of the public service expects accounting officers, directors and heads of procurement units to ensure that procurement activities are handled by well-trained professionals who uphold the highest ethical standards.
According to him, the Office of the Head of Service remains committed to continuous capacity building, performance management and institutional reforms to strengthen competence and accountability within the procurement cadre.
In his welcome address, the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Fatai Idowu Onafowote, reinforced the message that effective procurement planning is the backbone of successful budget implementation.
He said the clinic was convened to strengthen the capacity of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to deliver public value through transparent and accountable procurement, and to ensure alignment with approved budgets, cash-flow realities and development priorities.
Onafowote noted that public procurement accounts for a significant share of government expenditure, placing enormous responsibility on procurement officers whose decisions directly influence service delivery, infrastructure development and public confidence.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Procurement, Samuel Apata, reaffirmed the Lagos State House of Assembly’s commitment to strict oversight of public procurement.
He said compliance with due process is non-negotiable, stressing that the legislature’s role is not to obstruct governance but to ensure accountability, transparency and value for money.
Apata noted that proper procurement planning reduces abandoned projects, strengthens oversight and boosts public confidence, warning that while the House supports procurement reforms, it will not hesitate to exercise its oversight powers where violations occur.
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