Ayodele Olalere
The 57 newly elected chairmen of local government and local council development areas in Lagos State have been charged to formulate policies and programmes that would reduce poverty amongst people at the grassroots.
The State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while addressing the chairmen at a three-day induction and retreat organized for them at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, with the theme: “Engendering Peace, Security and Development at the Grassroots,” admonished the council chairmen ‘ to think out of the box and create enabling environment for wealth creation among people at the grassroots.’’
The event was organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs. The governor called for peace between the council chiefs and the electorate, saying that it is only under a peaceful atmosphere that jobs can be created.
He emphasized that it is their responsibility to serve the people, adding that, “you have to write your names in gold as you work with your people.’
The Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed congratulated the chairmen on their victory at the poll. He thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for graciously acceding to the actualisation of retreat, “to allow the chairmen add their collective contributions towards the actualisation of the THEMES Agenda, particularly at the grassroots.”
Ahmed stated that the theme of the event was carefully chosen to address some very important discourse, which include “Administrative Guidelines for Local Governments”; “Due Diligence on Project Procedure and Implementation in LGs/LCDAs on Chieftaincy Matters”, “Drainage, Waste Management and Sanitation as it relates to LGs and LCDAs” and with “Effective Communication and Strategic Public Relations Skills”.
‘’Having just emerged as the choices of the electorates, this retreat underscores the need to ensure that Chairmen of the 57 LGs and LCDAs of our great state grasp policies that would help stimulate socio-economic development at the grassroots and also engender the dream of making Lagos a 21st century economy.
‘’While I totally agree that returning chairmen might be in tune with requisite skills for council administration, some of the new chairmen would certainly appreciate this window of opportunity, to learn a thing or two about result-oriented council administration, synonymous with Lagos State which has made us the envy and admiration of other states in the federation,” he said.
‘’I want to commend Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for graciously acceding to the actualisation of this well-timed retreat, to enable this august gathering add their collective contributions towards the actualisation of the THEMES agenda, particularly at the grassroots.
‘’There is no doubt, Mr. Governor, that with this retreat and the implementation of the policies and ideas that will be discussed here, Lagos State will continue on the pathway of a progressive, notable and even development that will affect every fibre of the state,” he further said.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues in the 57 council area, Chairman, Bariga LCDA, Hon. Alabi Kolade David, promised that they will all perform creditably well and work to make the All Progressives Congress (APC) proud.
Harping on how they intend to achieve success in their tenure, he said: ” It’s all about collaboration and synergy between local government and all agencies of government.”And of course, we will take a lot away from this and we are going to administer it at the LGAs.”