The Forum of Heads of Department of Budget and Planning in the 57 Local Governments of Lagos State, have been told to inculcate the Lagos Resilience Strategy, LRS, into all their life transforming initiatives at the grassroots.
At a forum organised by the Lagos State Resilience Office, LASRO, at The Colossus, Ikeja, the budget officers were urged to assist the state strengthen its capacity to cope with the stresses and shocks besetting it by coming up with initiatives and programmes that would lift and improve the living standards of the people.
The Lagos State Chief Resilience Officer, Dr Folayinka Dania, said the training was aimed at sensitizing the council planning officers on the initiatives in the Lagos Resilience Strategy, with a view to ensuring that resilient-focused programmes is captured in their budget for implementation at the local government level.
According to Dr. Dania, her office has continued hold regular forum with officers of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, as well as at the third tier of government which to help drive the implementation of the resilience strategies at the grassroots.
She said since the public release of the LRS document in February 2020, the state has enshrined the goal of the resilience vision to survive and excel in the face of daunting challenges.
She explained that the forum with planning and budget officers was to provide an opportunity to bring together Local government stakeholders for the adoption and implementation of the initiatives for the greater good of people at the grassroots.
According to her, the LRS was the State’s and Nigeria’s first urban resilience strategy document, and it articulates an integrated approach to addressing shocks and stresses Lagos experiences or might experience in the future.
While urging members of the forum to participate actively in the training s they would be expected to translate the training into actionable initiatives at their various local governments.
The CRO noted that their suggestions and recommendations could birth robust ideas capable of enhancing the State’s resilience capacity.
She said: “We are here today to intimate Lagos State, Local Governments and Local Councils’ officials on resilience and how the Lagos Resilience Strategy can be adopted at the Local Government level in line with our objectives and goals. We will discuss the different attributes that constitute the building blocks of the strategy and how they could impact projects and programmes that are being implemented across the board. We will also identify challenges to the implementation of planned projects and programmes, and proffer strategies to mitigate these challenges.
“I therefore enjoin you to fully participate to ensure a thorough understanding of the Resilience Strategy document and how we can work together to improve Lagos’ resilience.”
Dania commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the administration’s commitment to building a stronger, resilient State., In his remarks, one of the participant, Giwa Olufemi Olugbenga, H.O.D, Planning, Budget, Research and Statistics, Ijede LCDA, said he is delighted to see that the government, through the document is committed to building a State that is efficient, innovative and inclusive, a State that survives, adapts and grows sustainably in spite of its multifaceted challenges.
In his goodwill remarks, Director, Lagos State Bureau of Statistics, Mr Bashir Oseni-Ope, said there was the need to regularly key into various government platforms of data management such as Eko360, Demographic Dividends and Open data, vital data, digital forum by Lagos State Government – which are efforts aimed at ensuring good governance in the State., Director Economic Planning Department at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. B. R. Ogunshola, noted that since the people were the direct beneficiaries of any government initiatives, it is very necessary to truly engage them in the process so as to make the strategy more effective.
He further commended the government for deploying resources to implement sustainable projects that will help the State to mitigate against future shocks and stresses, adding that the effort was helping the State to advance in delivering its goals and objectives.
In his contribution, Onitiri Adebola Lookman, Ojo Local Government, noted that the Lagos Resilience Strategy initiatives were helpful in mitigating against the adverse effect of shocks and stresses, noting that cascading it to the local governments will further deepen the state’s capacity to remain strong, stable and resilient.
He, however, advised the government to do more by availing Local Governments the needed funding opportunities to further help the State to meet the 21st century goal for a resilient city., All participants rated the government high in the implementation of the resilience strategy initiatives which they believed if implemented for a better and improved performance.