‘We welcome criticisms’, Sanwo-Olu speaks on controversial expenses

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said his administration is open to criticisim.

The governor said this in response to the controversy that has trailed the procurement record released by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Lagos State Building Control Agency Building, Ikeja, the governor said he welcomed the open letter by the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress in Lagos, Funso Doherty.

Dohrety had challenged Sanwo-Olu to come out clean on the approval of humongous expenditure.

But the governor assured him that the government will continue to publish its spending and keep it open for public scrutiny.

“We are committed, responsible and transparent. We don’t have a problem with anybody, or any individual. We acknowledge that these are ways we should be doing things. We appreciate criticism. We appreciate the fact that people can look at us in the face that we need to do well in the state.”

“So we don’t have a problem with the originator of an open letter. In fact, we like it and we want to thank him, and that’s to say that indeed, to be a government that’s firm and responsible, we should not shy away from criticism.

“But it is only when criticism is malicious, unintended and it is to misrepresent the truth and that’s where there’s a problem. Some officers in Lagos have all come out to say that indeed we can make mistakes on some lines of items. I heard of a particular one that an item was meant to be N2m but it was written as N2bn.

“For me, I’m leading a team of very dedicated public officials; I’m leading a team of committed civil servants. I’m leading a team of self-motivated public officials who want to stand and say that they can be well recognised.

“All we want to do is to serve the people of Lagos, and serve the state with every iota of strength and commitment we have, and believing Lagosians can truly see the benefit of our service. I just want to make this point, and put it to rest.”