Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commended the efforts of the Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ASELGON) towards strengthening local government administration and empowering communities to drive sustainable development in the country.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation during 2024 ASELGON annual retreat/awards held on Thursday in Ikeja, where he was honoured with the award of the Best Governor in Support of Local Government Autonomy.
The governor, represented by his Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bolaji Robert, noted that the theme of the retreat, ‘Local Government Autonomy, Bringing Government and Economic Development Close to the People: A Case Study of Lagos State’, was particularly relevant to his administration’s vision for grassroots development.
“We believe that local government autonomy is essential for bringing government and economic development closer to the good people of our dear state. By devolving power and resources to the third-tier of government in Nigeria, we can unlock the potential of our various local governments and create opportunities for sustainable development,” he said.
The governor described Lagos State as a shining example of what can be achieved when local governments are empowered to take charge of their own development.
“From the innovative solutions we have provided to traffic management and waste disposal to the investments in education and healthcare, in tandem with the THEMES PLUS Agenda of the state government, Lagos State has demonstrated the impact that effective local governance can have on the lives of citizens,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the delegates to explore the lessons from Lagos State and other successful examples of local government autonomy by sharing their experiences and insights.
National President of ASELGON, Albert Asipa, commended the governor for aligning with the association and local government autonomy, noting that the autonomy would drive grassroots development and curtail the insecurity bedeviling every state.
“The challenges of insecurity will be eradicated as every local government will have the financial capability to engage security personnel to fight the menace. The association has over 5,000 members across the 774 local government areas across Nigeria,” he said.
Vice President of ASELGON, Abiodun Mafe, reiterated the need to sensitise Nigerians about local government autonomy, from which he said Lagos State had benefited immensely for the past 20 years.
“We are saying it boldly to states that are contesting local government autonomy that we have practiced it in Lagos State, and we are successful.
“If you go around state, you will see numerous infrastructural developments achieved through local government autonomy,” Mafe said.
He noted that the retreat was meant to educate other states on how to implement autonomy and gain maximally from it.
“We invite all our contemporaries from the 35 other states to come and learn what we have been able to exhibit. Local government laws are well interpreted, and whoever misinterprets them is doing that out of their selfish interest.
“The Supreme Court judgment is very clear; those governors having issues of implementation are the ones who are dipping their hands into the local government’s funds. There is no ambiguity about that judgment,” he said.
The chairman of the organising committee and chairman of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Kamal Bayewu, said the state is enjoying local government autonomy and that is why there is growth and development at the grassroots.
“The government at the grassroots is being felt in Lagos, and that is the reason why we are imploring our colleagues in all other states to come around and make Lagos a case study so that when they get back to their various states, they can let the people know what Lagos is enjoying.
“When people see development and economic growth, there will be fewer problems, and the communities will be secured. They will be the first line of security and guard their environments. That is the more reason we have brought members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to key into the programme,” Bayewu said.
