By Yemisi Izuora-Lagos
Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly LAHA, Hon. Ikuforiji has sought greater collaboration with the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) a state level program of the Department for International Development (DFID) especially in the area of training.
The leadership of the House this morning paid a courtesy visit to SAVI office in Lagos to appreciate its partnership with the DFID project over the years.
The Speaker who was represented by the Clerk of the House, Ganiyu Segun Abiru, admitted that since SAVI began engagement with the House, a lot of transformation had been recorded.
“SAVI has assisted the House to achieve some milestone in its reform process. SAVI has helped in productive output of members, so our visit is to exchange views and find new partnership space” the speaker stated.
He said the House was particularly appreciative of SAVI support to the House in the area of corporate governance and mentoring pointing that since those programs evolved it has helped in the area of succession strategy.
Ikuforiji further requested SAVI to come up with more strategic plan that will ensure new members who will make up the 8th Assembly are fully equipped with legislative ideas through dedicated training.
They commended the program for computers donated earlier but appealed for more donation in that regard to strengthen its IT base.
Earlier, the National Team Leader (NTL) of SAVI in Nigeria, Kevin Gager, appreciated the visit and pledged to upscale the training programs.
Gager who spoke through the State Team Leader (STL) SAVI Lagos, Mr. Felix Obanubi proposed a phased training for new legislators who will make the 8th Assembly in the state.
The NTL explained that the training has become imperative to enable them understand the critical role of the House personnel.
“We will continue to support the reform process in the Lagos state legislature. I am particularly happy with level of transformation in the House, and out of the ten states where SAVI operate, Lagos state Assembly is the pacesetterl he remarked.
He also said the SAVI from next dispensation would begin to engage the interface with the institution via various committees, Units and Directorates that are critical to ensure legislative functions are enhanced.
“This will be our new strategic approach and as soon as we identify their aids we will start to build their capacity to make their principals perform in their legislative functions” Gager assured.