The Lagos State Government has urged residents to change their attitudes in order to boost the status of the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office Ms Toyin Ogunlana, gave the advice at the 4th Public Policy Roundtable, organised by the Policy Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation (PAME) Department of the Cabinet Office.
The roundtable had the theme: Accelerating Accountability And Responsive Governance Through Making Lagos A 21st Century Economy.
Ogunlana said in a statement that attitude change is a critical step in addressing corruption and improving public service delivery to the residents.
She said that while government and its institutions, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play vital roles, meaningful progress depended largely on a shift in mindset among residents and public officers alike.
According to her, attitude change will ensure that the residents join actively in making Lagos State a 21st Century Economy.
She said that the roundtable was to enlighten and provide an opportunity to assess the current realities within the civil service.
Ogunlana added that corruption could be curbed if public servants embraced integrity, transparency and accountability.
She urged public servants on the need for improved record-keeping and evidence-based decision-making across ministries, departments and agencies, as weak documentation and poor data management hinder effective governance.
The permanent secretary also acknowledged government’s efforts to make information available, while urging residents to be more proactive in seeking relevant information.
She said that civil servants were central to policy formulation and implementation, but the residents’contributions and ideas were equally important in shaping effective policies.
Also speaking, Dr Oladele Oyatope, the Head, PAME Department, Cabinet Office, defined public policy as a course of action, or inaction; taken by a governmental entity to address a public problem or achieve a desired outcome.
Oyatope said that it involved the decisions, regulations, and funding priorities (sometimes with the legal backing) that governments establish to guide their actions and influence society.
“Essentially, it is what government chooses to do, or not to do, about issues affecting the people,” he said.
The Head of PAME said that Lagos State had made significant progress in economic development, compared to other states in Nigeria, owing to its policies.
He said that toward make the state a 21st century economy, the government had supported small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as financial technology.
“Lagos has established technology hubs to facilitate ease of doing business in the state. These initiatives aim to contribute to the overall development of Lagos State as a 21st century economy,” he said.
