- Council Chairmen Must Deliver on People’s Expectations – Sanwo-Olu
- Emphasizes that efforts must focus on the grassroots
- “Your victory at the polls is not just a political victory. It is a mandate from the people”
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged the newly elected 57 local council chairmen and their deputies to ensure they are not the weakest link in the state’s governance.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Sanwo-Olu made the call during a three-day retreat held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, organized by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development.
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He said the program, themed “Driving Grassroots Development through Strategic Governance,” was designed to support the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 57 local government areas and local council development areas in managing their duties.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the governor explained that the retreat aimed to equip the council leaders with important information and knowledge on the complexities and guidelines for Local Government Administration, as well as Public Sector Ethics.
He said, “Your victory at the polls is not just a political victory. It is a mandate from the people for the APC to have a clean sweep. The retreat is an understanding of a group. Nobody should be the weakest link. The only way is to learn from each other. The retreat is supposed to equip all of you.
“I am happy when I came in and I saw procurement officers engaging you. I think the procurement law was introduced into our country by the World Bank because corruption starts and ends with procurement. There is an assumption that everyone who occupies public office is a thief. We must learn from one another, if you think you will not have problem, sorry, you are not here for the job.
“Governance is more than rocket science. The work ahead of us is very urgent, the expectations of the people are high, you will never satisfy them,” he said.
He acknowledged that challenges in West Africa include physical planning and procurement, emphasizing that efforts must focus on the grassroots and a better understanding of the space.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, said the retreat was to help the council chairmen settle quickly into governance and provide them with the necessary knowledge on local government administration.
“The expectations of the people are high. They await the fulfillment of promises, delivery of critical infrastructure projects, and people-centered services, which are the visible dividends of democracy that will improve their socio-economic lives,” the commissioner stated.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sanni Okanlawon, urged the chairmen to be problem solvers, emphasizing that leadership is not a title but trust that must be earned.
On behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of the Ibeju-Lekki Local Council Development Area, Sesan Olowa, thanked the governor for approving the retreat and said the successful swearing-in ceremony showed their commitment to good governance.
“I want to assure you that at the end of the retreat, we will have been equipped for the task ahead. Our role at the grassroots is crucial to the survival of democracy, and we are ready to deliver,” Olowa promised.
