The
Lagos State Government on Wednesday created a 12-member Economic Advisory
Committee headed by renowned accountant and financial expert, Dr Bode Agusto to
spearhead the State Government’s drive to improve the business environment and
advance the economic development of the State.
This
was disclosed in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government,
Mr Tunji Bello after the State Executive Council meeting at the Lagos House,
Alausa, Ikeja.
In
his words: “the Economic Advisory Team is expected to bring an independent
perspective to economic and business issues with the primary role of offering
advice to the State Government for the purposes of fostering and advancing
economic and business opportunities; provide an effective mechanism for
engaging the private sector on matters relating to economic development of
the State as well as provide advice and strategic direction along the lines of
the Lagos State Development Plan.”
The
Economic team is saddled with the responsibility of specifically advising on
the overall finance strategy to bridge the massive infrastructure gap in the
state; analyzing any issue, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the
Governor and to act as champions for certain initiatives.
The
SSG stated that it had become imperative, especially in this period of strong
economic ‘head winds’ for the Government to better engage the private sector to
get independent views on economic and business issues in delivering the
government’s mandate to the people.
Other
members of the Committee are Mr Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, Mr Kenneth Igbokwe, Mrs
Nimi Akinkugbe, Mrs Adenike Ogunlana, Dr Laolu Mudashiru, Mrs Omobola Johnson,
Mr Moruf Oseni and Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi who would serve as the Secretary.
The
State Government would be represented on the Committee by the Commissioners for
Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olawale Oluwo,
and Commerce and Industry and Cooperatives, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye.
According
to Mr Bello, the private sector members of the committee were carefully
selected based on their known track record of integrity, independence of
thought and outlook as well as diverse industry experience.
He
added that members of the Committee would be expected to commit to serve for at
least two year while they would meet regularly and send reports to the State
Executive Council, adding that the team would be allowed to invite industry
experts to provide support during its deliberations.
Tags
Business