By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Three months after the inauguration of local government chairmen across Lagos State, residents and stakeholders in Kosofe have raised concerns over the prolonged delay in constituting cabinet members — a development that has stirred heated debates about governance, transparency, and the role of community media in local accountability.
The conversation began on the KosofePost community platform after a resident asked:
“How far about the local government cabinet — nearly three months now without cabinet members?”
Responding, KosofePost commented,
“APC and residents aren’t complaining, so what’s your own cup of zobo?”
The post, though seemingly lighthearted, sparked a wave of reactions from residents and civic leaders who questioned the transparency of local authorities.
The media outlet went further to allege that some local government officials were not transparent in their handling of public funds, citing claims that a particular council chairman received “hundreds of millions” in federal allocation but declared only half of it to councillors — a situation said to have caused internal conflict.
“Truth be told, if the chairman had declared the full amount and given the councillors their share, there wouldn’t have been this ‘fish market noise,’” the post stated.
The exchange quickly evolved into a broader conversation about governance and accountability at the grassroots.
President of the Ta’awun Humanitarian Forum, Lagos Chapter, Taiwo Lasisi, called for greater transparency in local administration.
“The removal of fuel subsidy is a blessing to all the three tiers of government, but proper accountability and assessment must be done every quarter for credibility,” Lasisi said.
Similarly, social commentator Oloye Salami Oluwaseun alleged widespread corruption among local government chairmen.
“If our system was working perfectly, many chairmen should be cooling their heads in Kirikiri Prison. The subsidy removal only enriched them, not the citizens,” he remarked.
However, publisher of MoschinoBlog, Engr. Olusola Emmanuel Adedayo, countered Salami’s position, accusing him of inconsistency.
“You once aided and abetted the same chairman you now criticize. It’s because you’re no longer benefiting that you’re attacking him. Learn to criticize objectively — whether in or out of favour,” he said.
Defending KosofePost, media advocate Aina Oyebanji commended the platform for its consistency in promoting accountability and civic engagement at the community level.
“Politicians in the Southwest alienate community media when they are enjoying patronage. When crumbs stop dropping, they rush back to push false narratives. Community media deserve better support and training,” he said.
As residents await the formation of cabinet members across local councils, the ongoing debate underscores the growing tension between the media, political actors, and citizens over transparency and accountability in grassroots governance across Lagos State.