Ogun moves to strengthens LG administration

…Holds interactive session with council chair, others

http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Chief-Jide-Ojuko...Ogun-LG-and-Chieftaincy-Affairs-Commissioner..jpg

 

By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: TOWARDS strengthening administration at the local government level, Ogun State government has instituted an interactive session with stakeholders to brainstorm on the way forward.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko, revealed government’s intention at a one-day interactive session for appointed and elected office holders at the Conference Hall, Obas’ Complex, Oke-mosan, Abeokuta.

Ojuko noted that the importance of effective administration at the third tier of government in the state could not be over-emphasised, as it was created specifically to address development deficit at the grassroots.

According to the Press Officer, Mrs. Oluwaseun Boye, the Commissioner stressed the need for all stakeholders at the local level including political appointees to collaborate and work as a team at ensuring that local government achieved its set objectives at improving the well-being of the people.

The Chairman, Head of Local Government Administration’s (HOLGA) Forum, Venerable Willy Olugbebi, charged chairmen and secretaries of local governments and Local Council Developments Areas (LCDAs) to follow the ethics of the council in order to have a hitch-free tenure.

Also, the Chairman, Ogun State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Adekunle Adeosun, who was represented by his Special Adviser on IGR, Alhaji Olasheu Adebanjo, advised participants to find ways of generating revenue without putting pressure on the people through due process by identifying other revenue sources with their enabling laws.

Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Samuel Sonuga, advised the participants to co-operate with other stakeholders in formulating laws and policies to positively affect the lives of the people in their areas in order to ensure that dividends of democracy spread across the nooks and crannies of the state.

Meanwhile, in its determination at ensuring improved performance of local government functionaries for effective administration, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with Local Government Service Commission has organised a one-day interactive session for chairmen, secretaries and Heads of Local Government Administration in the 20 councils areas and 37 LCDAs.

While declaring the session open at the Oba’s Complex, the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, called on local government functionaries to ensure that all hands were on deck for even distribution of democratic dividends at the grassroots.

Adekunbi said that the interactive session was not only timely, but an avenue to address various administrative challenges that could likely arise in the course of proper take-off of the local government management.

In his welcome address to the participants and guests, Ojuko pointed out that the programme was designed to prepare both elected and appointed officials for the task ahead as well as equip them with necessary skills needed to enrich their knowledge for effective performance.

“This programme was interactive in nature to enable all Local Government Leaders compare notes with one another

and cross-fertilize ideas to positively affect the lives of the people at the grass root levels,” Ojuko said, adding: “I also implore you to contribute meaningfully to the rebuilding mission of the present administration by putting in place programmes for socio- economic development at the grass root levels.”

In his remarks, the Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Comrade Rotimi Rahman, stated that the session was an avenue for key players in the local government administration to gather and rub minds so as to collectively achieve a successful tenure.

Rahman also urged participants to foster harmonious relationship with their immediate communities as this would ensure optimal realisation of greater outputs across their various communities.

• For any reaction or to contact GatewayMail newspaper, Toronto, Canada email us at: info@gatewaymail.org, whatsapp or text message: +2348033186252 (no calls).