Council chiefs urged to heed Sanwwo-Olu’s advice on poverty reduction initiative
Razaq Bamidele
A pro-democracy organisation, the Nigeria Peace Advocacy Group (NPAG), has urged the newly inaugurated Chairmen and Councillors in the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), in Lagos State to heed the advice of the state Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, on people oriented initiatives towards reduction of poverty among their people.
Convener of the group, Comrade Omolola Olukayode, who dropped this hint in a chat with our correspondent in Lagos early Friday, said, the importance of any programme that could reduce poverty, hardship and hunger among the grassroots people can never be over emphasized.
According to Olukayode, the essence of putting the council chiefs in positions of authority is mainly to cater for the welfare of the people under their catchment areas, reminding them that, those who voted for them reposed some degrees of confidence in them which must not be betrayed.
Speaking further, the group leader, who explained that, the council bosses are mini governors of their areas stressed the need to emulate the administrative style of their overall boss, Sanwo-Olu whose way and manner he administer the state has made him the cynosure of all eyes, reminding that, their role is to complement the governor’s style of governance to move the state further forward.
Olukayode insisted that, synergy between the grassroots administrators and their big boss is highly desired to collectively provide good governance warning that, none of them should see him/herself as an island on his/her own because governance is essentially a collective responsibility of all.
“That is why democracy is defined as government of the people by the people and for the people. And that is the more reason the council bosses should allow windows for collective participation through all inclusive system to get feedback from the grassroots. That style would guard the administrators to amend their ways when derailing,” the group leader admonished.
Against this backdrop, Olukayode therefore enjoined the grassroots people to assist, support and cooperate with their elected leaders in their onerous task of ensuring their welfare, pointing out that, objective criticisms and genuine advice that can make things work are welcome in democracy.
Recall that, the 57 newly elected chairmen of local government and local council development areas in Lagos State have been sworn in by Governor Sanwo-Olu, who charged them to formulate policies and programmes that would create wealth and reduce poverty amongst people at the grassroots.
The governor made the call while addressing them at a three-day induction and retreat organized for them at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme: “Engendering Peace, Security and Development at the Grassroots,” where he admonished the council bosses to “think out of the box and create enabling environment for wealth creation among people at the grassroots.”
