Lagos State’s newly sworn-in chairmen of the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have received a handful of advice from notable leaders in the state as they settle into their roles.
In an induction organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged them to prioritize results-oriented programs to address poverty and accelerate good governance at the grassroots level.
On Thursday, the Governor joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in the state and members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to counsel the chairmen and offer suggestions to ensure their success.
The two-day induction, with the theme: “Engendering Peace, Security, and Development at the Grassroots”, is being held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.
He reminded the council chairmen that the manifesto of the APC from which platform they arose gave priority to programs focused on the development and people’s welfare, stressing that it was their responsibility to sustain the support, confidence, and trust of the people through purposeful, results-oriented governance.
The governor urged the chairmen to embrace the timeless legacy of APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and treat the baton of leadership handed to them with respect and dignity.
He said: “The critical role of the Local Government in facilitating the delivery of the dividends of democracy at the grassroots cannot be over-emphasized.”
“As you settle down in your new positions, it is incumbent upon you to continue to earn the support, trust, and confidence of the people by promoting purposeful, result-oriented, and inclusive governance, a foundation laid out by our leader and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
“As leaders elected under the platform of the APC, you must be committed to following the direction and progressive ideology of the party as encapsulated in the manifesto.
The party’s people-centred ideas and programs have, over the years, been implemented meticulously at the Federal level and in Lagos to the admiration and satisfaction of our people, who, in return, have remained consistent and unwavering in their support and loyalty to our party.”
Sanwo-Olu urged the chairmen not to embark on projects that would be detrimental to their communities and commit their statutory allocations to goals that would benefit all of them.
The Governor advised the council chiefs to align their policies and programs with the state government’s development agenda, known as Project T.H.E.M.E.S.
The Governor also warned the council chiefs against playing politics with development, saying their tenure would be measured by the impactful development they achieved.
Sanwo-Olu said: “As Local Government Chief Executives, you have important responsibilities as Security Officers in your domains, serving as an early-warning security system for law enforcement and security agencies, and the State Government.
“You must have your eyes and ears to the ground, working closely with local and traditional institutions, market, transport, and artisan unions, youth groups, and religious organizations to defuse those seemingly minor tensions that tend to blow up into unmanageable situations.”
Sanwo-Olu gave a progress report on the 377 projects launched by the State Government in Lagos’ 377 wards last year, explaining that they were 70 per cent complete.
Dr Obafemi Hamzat informed the council chairs of contemporary challenges facing leaders worldwide, noting that there had been growing resentment against leaders perceived as being anti-people.
Hamzat, who spoke on “The challenges of leaders today”, advised the chairmen not to create a void between themselves and members of their communities.
“Every council chairman must understand their localized challenges and realities through which they will constantly engage the people,” Hamzat said.
GAC chairman Prince Tajudeen Olusi, who served as a councillor in the colonial era, described council chairmen as “fathers” of their communities, stressing that they must prioritize the residents’ welfare and serve the people to the best of their ability.
According to Olusi, the party’s chairmen now have enormous responsibilities, as their election was a call to service, and you have a responsibility to uphold the party’s name.
Rilwanu Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, likened the job of council chairman to a policeman, whose work is usually underappreciated by the citizens.
According to him, only the development initiated by the council chairmen would make them stand out.
The monarch warned the council chiefs against pursuing wealth at the expense of their community members, saying such a course would taint their tenure and embarrass their party.
The commissioner for local government and community affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, urged the chairmen to display good attitudes, saying their actions would reflect negatively on the party’s image.
In Chairman of Bariga LCDA, who doubles as chairman of Conference 57, Hon. Kolade Alabi’s words, the event was symbolic, as it was the first time council chairmen interacted in this manner.
On behalf of the chairmen, he pledged their commitment to the party’s development programs and collaboration with the State Government.
