LAGOS: Effective policy implementation key to state’s success story, says SSG

THE Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Folashade Jaji, has ascribed Lagos’ success story, especially in the current political dispensation, to effective policy implementation.

Jaji disclosed this, in Alausa, while hosting the Senior Executive Council (SEC) 43,2021 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, who were on a study tour of the state, maintaining that no matter how good policies are, they cannot be successful without efficient and effective implementation.

She said: “The confirmation of successful policy implementation in the state is evident in our success stories that cut across infrastructure renewal, revenue generation, public transportation, housing, education, technology, healthcare delivery, environment, empowerment and many more in the last two years.”

While officially declaring the study tour open, the SSG said the theme of the year 2021 edition, “Getting Things Done: Strategies for Policy and Programme Implementation in Nigeria,” conforms with the vision of Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The SSG said that the study tour would avail the visiting team the opportunity to critically assess the state’s strategies, gather more data and come up with recommendations that will help deliver better policies and implementation of strategies to further quicken the country’s desired progress and prosperity.

She added that efforts of the Sanwo-Olu-led administration to effectively and efficiently implement policies are further rooted in the recently approved establishment of the Policy Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation (PAME) department in the office of the SSG.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary, office of the SSG, Tolani Oshodi, welcomed the participants and informed that they would have the opportunity to interact directly with the policy and programme implementation arm of the government to identify the state’s successes, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, economic recession and the #EndSARS protest.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and the institute’s librarian, Dr. Emmanuel Mamman, described the state as a role model for other states to emulate, saying “the Institute had chosen to take a local tour of the state in view of its leadership role in the nation”.

There were presentations on strategies for policy and programme implementation by the key ministries including transportation, economic planning and budget, works and infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, environment and water resources, agriculture, education, health, finance and science and technology during the meeting.

Activities for the weeklong study tour of the state include a visit to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, state Command Centre and Bariga Local Council Development Area among others.