Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government has installed 18 new traditional rulers, mediated in 12 boundary disputes as well paid N269.6 million to families of deceased staff of Local Government Areas and State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) in the last two years.
Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs in the state, Dr. Wale Ahmed, made the disclosure, on Tuesday, at this year’s Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in office.
Of the 18 obas, the commissioner revealed that five were First Class obas, while 13 others Second Class obas.
According to Ahmed, the Ministry recorded such achievements by leveraging on the meticulous effort of the Standing Tribunal of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters to ensure that Chieftaincy matters were resolved in a way and manner that had efficiently reduced acrimony in the various communities.
Reeling out the achievements, the Commissioner said: “This has also ensured continued improvement in government-traditional rulers’ relationship, such that traditional Institutions are working in tandem with the state government to ensure that the dividends of governance reach the grassroots.
“Between June 2020 and March 2021, the Ministry through the Chieftaincy Department has successfully installed 18 Obas (traditional rulers). Of these 18 Obas; five are First Class Obas and 13 are Second Class Obas. It is important to note here that these installations were conducted peacefully because of mediation that resulted into harmonious resolutions in all the ruling houses.”
On boundary disputes and how they were resolved, Ahmed stated that the Ministry ensured communal peace at the grassroots were maintained, especially in communities that had boundary issues, through its prompt and periodic arbitration and adjudication, thereby averting situation that might result into breakdown of law and order.
“This has ensured peaceful communal existence and zero-level of communal clashes. The resultant effect is the ease of doing business and continued economic growth as Lagos residents undergo and undertake their daily businesses without fear of chaos or communal clashes.
“This has been effective because the ministry has in the past one year leveraged on the good relationship the state government has with traditional leaders and community leaders,” he said.
He added, “The Ministry is presently adjudging 12 boundary disputes in the State. Two of these boundary issues have been resolved while the rest are ongoing.”
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Ahmed further stated that the Ministry, through the Monitoring Department, in conjunction with the Public Affairs Unit, conducted enlightenment campaigns on the importance of environmental sanitation and desilting of drainages across markets in the 57 Local Gvernment Areas and Local Council Development Areas of the State and also engaged Community Development Associations in this effort.
On community development, he said in the year under review, the Ministry engaged citizens at the grassroots through monthly meetings held with Communities and engaging the Development Advisory Council to discuss sustainability of government programmes, policies, projects, activities, initiatives and innovations, among others.
As a way of showing the state care about it’s workers, the Commissioner said state government, through the Ministry paid N269.6mllion to families of 160 deceased LG and SUBEB staff in the last two years.
He also said a total of 154 marital documents were released to LGAs/LCDAs, with 21 Special License Approvals, two Church License Approvals and two Renewal of Approvals.
377 state-wide project by the administration of Sanwo-Olu were also initiated and coordinated by the Ministry.
Ahmed stated that the project covered 257 roads, 86 buildings, 23 electrification, nine boreholes and two jetties to link communities across the state, thereby making communities accessible and as a result, engendered socio-economic activities at the grassroots.
He further said through Local Government Administration Department, the Ministry witnessed the inauguration of a 21-man Market Advisory Council by Sanwo-Olu, saying that the inauguration was borne out of the governor’s desire to make Lagos State a 21st century economy and to strategically position the markets in a way that it profits the state and sets it ready for the economic growth it would witness in the years ahead.
