The Lagos State Government’s Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement organized a one-day sensitisation programme aimed at promoting volunteerism as a means of fostering community development and governance.
Eko Hot Blog reports that this initiative aligns with the government’s vision of social inclusion under the THEMES Plus Agenda.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Political, Legislative, and Civic Engagement, emphasized that volunteerism is not solely about availability but also about creating a collaborative relationship between the government and residents.
He explained that this collaboration would facilitate a greater impact on society and improve the flow of information regarding government initiatives.
Tajudeen affirmed the Lagos State Government’s readiness to cooperate with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community Development Associations (CDAs), and Community Development Committees (CDCs) to disseminate essential information concerning government programmes and their effects on the populace.
“As Community Development Associations and Community Development Committees, there are government programmes and initiatives that the people in your community can benefit from.
Some laws affect the residents as well. It is now your role as volunteers to take these programmes and initiatives home to your people”.
Afolabi further said that for the Government to know the challenges of the people, it is pertinent for the people to escalate such issues and move closer to the Government by bringing ideas and suggestions on how such issues can be resolved while partnering with the State in pushing Lagos to greater heights.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Engr. Sholabomi Shasore highlighted that volunteerism is a critical tool that can be used to improve the lives of Lagos residents and the community while safeguarding infrastructures that the State Government has provided to make life easier for its residents.
“The Lagos State Government has invested in numerous assets for the benefit of the residents of the State and our youths, but we found out that some of this infrastructure provided by the Government is being vandalised over time.
When these assets are vandalised, it takes a lot of time and finances to replace them, and the resources that are supposed to be used for the provision of other infrastructure are used for these replacements.
We are all gathered here today to put heads together on ways to provide lasting solutions on how to safeguard this infrastructure so that the next generation will also benefit from them” she added.
Delivering his goodwill message, the President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran appreciated the Office for constantly engaging the citizens through various means, noting that volunteerism is a calling that involves committing oneself to service of humanity and safeguarding the interest of the community and the people.
Citing examples of volunteerism, Comrade Adeniran explained that through the act of Volunteerism, roads and infrastructure requested for have been built, adding that everyone involved in Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs) are one way or the other involved in volunteerism, rendering selfless service and contributing their quota to the development and transformation of their communities.
The General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Engr. K.A.T Balogun revealed that about 150 incidents of vandalisation of electricity cables, 500 incidents of vandalisation of streetlights and damage of solar-powered equipment installed in some Government schools had been recorded over the last 24 months.
He noted that though the Lagos State Government has taken some security measures to protect those assets, it is still important that the residents see this infrastructure as their own and volunteer to be involved in protecting them.
Delivering his address, Director, Engineering Department, Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Engr. Moshood Seriki said that the Lagos State Public Works Corporation is the most vulnerable Agency in terms of abuse and vandalisation, as most residents vandalise the common assets provided by the Government for public use, adding that these vandalisation are carried out due to a lack of volunteers who can protect these government assets.
He averred that it is the concerted efforts of the people through volunteerism, joined with the efforts of the Government, that can ensure that those assets are duly protected.
Hence, he appealed to all participants to wake up to the clarion call of volunteerism aimed at securing these common assets for the benefit of all residents.
On his part, the President, Campaign for Dignity in Governance, Mr. Rasak Olookoba called on the Lagos State Government to pass a social legislation that can protect the rights of volunteers and pledged that Civil Society Organisations are ready to collaborate with the State Government on volunteerism.
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