Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has urged chairmen of local government councils across the state to ensure that the increased federal allocations to their administrations are managed transparently and invested in projects that directly benefit residents.
Hamzat made the call on Wednesday during the commissioning of several projects executed by the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government as part of activities marking the first anniversary of the administration of its chairman, Olalekan Olu-Akindipe.
The deputy governor, who was represented at the event by Damilola Sonayon-James, the state’s APC deputy governorship candidate, said the additional funds available to local governments should be used for projects capable of delivering lasting benefits to communities.
He advised council chairmen to prepare clear development plans for the management of their resources, with priority given to areas such as infrastructure, healthcare and education.
Hamzat said the projects commissioned in Ajeromi-Ifelodun demonstrated the potential of local government autonomy when public resources are effectively managed.
“We are here to inaugurate some remarkable projects such as the Maracana footbridge, the Ajasa motorable bridge, the Mokoya motorable bridge, Oluwa Street, Oluwa Nursery and Primary School, Uweriro Street and three world-class solar projects.
“You can see what this council chairman is doing with the autonomy. The executive chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun is an example of what can be done with autonomy,” he said.
According to the deputy governor, the projects would ease movement within the community, support commercial activities and contribute to the economic development of the local government.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for his support for local government autonomy, saying the projects represented tangible benefits of democratic governance at the grassroots.
“What you are seeing at the grassroots is the dividends of democracy because every politics is local,” Hamzat said.
He further commended Olu-Akindipe for taking advantage of the greater autonomy available to local governments to execute projects aimed at improving the welfare of residents.
Speaking at the event, Olu-Akindipe said his administration would continue to preserve and complete worthwhile projects inherited from previous administrations while introducing new initiatives to meet emerging needs.
“My administration is about strengthening previous achievements and building institutional stability,” he said.
The council chairman said his administration was focused on initiatives capable of producing tangible benefits for residents, stressing that effective governance involved improving and sustaining successful programmes rather than discarding them simply to start afresh.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee, CDC, in the area, Ismaila Sanni, described the commissioned projects as a significant milestone in the development of Ajeromi-Ifelodun.
The event was attended by residents, community leaders, political stakeholders and other dignitaries who gathered to witness the commissioning of the projects.
Use federal allocation effectively – Hamzat tells Lagos LG chairmen