By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Administration and Community Affairs, Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Okanlawon, has expressed his commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Local Government, as well as the Chairmen of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), to gain a deeper understanding of their operations and devise strategies to improve their work.
This announcement came during a significant familiarization meeting held on Thursday at the Assembly complex. Hon. Okanlawon shared his insights with prominent figures in local governance, including Mr. Kamal Bayewu, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, and Hon. Alabi Kolade David, Chairman of the Bariga Local Council Area of Lagos State, who also serves as the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
In his address, Hon. Okanlawon highlighted a recent motion he presented on the floor of the House concerning the necessity of reviewing the administrative guidelines for local governments (LG) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA). He stressed that this review is aimed at achieving good governance and societal growth.
During the meeting, the Committee unanimously agreed on the importance of convening a local government summit. This summit will provide a platform for in-depth discussions on critical matters such as staff training, deployment, financial aspects, and general welfare.
In his concluding remarks, Hon. Kolade Alabi, Chairman of ALGON, conveyed gratitude to the House for organizing the meeting and expressed their collective commitment to address administrative guidelines and other areas where improvements are needed.
The meeting, attended by esteemed members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, including Hon. Abiodun Orekoya, Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu, Hon. Samuel Apata, Hon. Emmanuel Olotu, Hon. Jubril Abdulkareem, and Hon. Adebola Shabi, marks a significant step toward strengthening local government operations and promoting effective governance in Lagos State.