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…as Sanwo-Olu tasks LG bosses on peoples-oriented initiatives
Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, on Wednesday warned the newly elected 20 local government (LG) and 37 local council development area (LCDAs) chairmen in the state to desist from embezzlement, saying that dire consequences await anyone with a mindset of stealing public fund .
This was even Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, council bosses to come up with innovative programmes that would help to alleviate poverty amongst people at the grassroots.
Speaking at a 3-day induction, retreat for the newly-elected chairmen of the 57 LGs/ LCDAs organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs with the theme: “Engendering Peace, Security and Development at the Grassroots,” in Lagos, Akiolu urged the council bosses to be selfless desist from ‘grabing’ mindset.
Oba Akiolu said:” Let anyone of the local government chairman that I have collected contract from, come out and say it. I only advise you and that is why some of you run away from me. Your job is like a policeman, you can become successful or misfortune depending on what you do. It is therefore left for you to perform well.
“Some of you go to the office to make money; you have to be very careful. There is no councilor or chairman, who can claim he is giving me contract; I thank God Almighty Allah for giving me the initiative to do well as a junior officer… Grab, grab everything is nothing, hold 100,000 at hand the moment you sleep late in the night, the money will fall off. that is life,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Governor, Sanwo-Olu admonished the council bosses, “To think out of the box and create enabling environment for wealth creation among people at the grassroots.’’
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 advised them to embark on the project they can manage and which has impact on the lives of the people.
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.
Earlier, the Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed congratulated the elected chairmen and lauded 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”.
Ahmed said: “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 Honourable 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.
“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.”
While speaking with newsmen, the chairman of conference 57, Hon Kolade Alabi expressed satisfaction over the programme, saying it was three in one event comprising induction, retreat and parley.
Alabi who is also the President of ALGON, said the council chairmen are resolved to address infrastructure deficit in their respective councils.
