Lagos State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Bode Agoro, has said understanding of the new tax law by the citizens would enhance fiscal discipline.
He spoke at the 2025 edition of Public Procurement Summit with the theme: ‘Understanding the Impact of the New Tax Law on the Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services’, organised by the state government at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.
Delivering his goodwill message, Agoro, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs. Oyegbola Sunkanmi, said: ‘’As public officers, it is imperative to understand the implications of the new tax reforms—particularly as they relate to digital compliance, tax registration and cost management in the execution of government projects.’’
He noted that an understanding of the new tax law would not only improve compliance, but also enhance fiscal discipline, reduce waste and ensure better value-for-money outcomes in public spending.
Agoro said compliance with tax and procurement laws was not optional, but a duty, adding that synergy between both frameworks was vital for achieving the state’s objectives of sustainable revenue growth and prudent resource management.
He urged public servants to continue upholding the highest standard of integrity, fairness and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
“Every officer involved in procurement must be guided by professionalism and commitment to the rules and procedures established under the Lagos State Public Procurement Law,” he said.
The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Procurement, Mr. Samuel Apata, said lawmakers recognised effective procurement practices as key to achieving sustainable development and delivering quality services to citizens.
He said the assembly remained committed to supporting initiatives that would promote best practices, compliance and value-for-money in government contracting.
Finance Commissioner Mr. Oluyomi Abayomi, represented by Mrs. Bisola Dina of the State Treasury Office, described the newly-enacted tax reform as one of the most comprehensive in recent years, with far-reaching implications for public and private institutions.
He hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his exemplary leadership, under which Lagos State was recently recognised as ‘Best in Procurement Practice in Africa’ at the 2025 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, commended the agency for upholding integrity and transparency in public resource management.
Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Onafowote, said the objective of the summit was to provide a platform for policy makers, procurement professionals, tax experts and industry stakeholders to engage in robust discussions on the implications of the new tax reforms and to explore strategies that would ensure compliance, while maintaining efficiency and value-for-money in government contracting.
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Kogi State, Ehimoni Joshua, lauded Lagos State Government for organising the summit and called for continued harmonisation of procurement practices, to reinforce the role of procurement as a tool for economic stability, transparency and national development.
The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Tax Reform, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who joined the event online, said tax reform was designed to make business operations easier, particularly by providing exemptions to support the growth of small businesses.
Also speaking virtually, Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) (Federal), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, said BPP was proud to collaborate with Lagos State and assured it of continued partnership.
The event was attended by top government functionaries, heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, delegates from other states’ Bureaus of Public Procurement led by the chairman, Forum of DGs of Public Procurement, as well as other speakers and panellists.
