By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Concerned residents in Lagos State have intensified calls for explanations over the delay in releasing the long-anticipated list of local government cabinet members, raising fresh questions about the pace and structure of grassroots governance across the state.
The enquiries followed a recent KosofePost publication titled “Lagos APC Members Watch Closely as Local Government Cabinet Appointments Dribble In,” which highlighted growing unease within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Growing Frustration Within Party Ranks
Reacting to the development, child rights advocate Rasheed Awofeso questioned the prolonged silence surrounding the cabinet composition.
“What is holding the much-anticipated list? Local governments across the state are without the required executive members. Lagos must lead by good example as a smart city,” he said.
Similarly, an APC member close to a prominent Kosofe party leader, Oluwaseun Salami, expressed concern over the development. He lamented that Lagos, historically regarded as a pacesetter in governance and political coordination, now appears to be experiencing a slowdown at the grassroots level.
According to Salami, more than seven months after elected chairmen assumed office, the absence of supervisory councillors and cabinet members has created administrative gaps. He noted that executive members play critical roles in policy implementation, departmental supervision and day-to-day council administration.
He further warned that prolonged delays could weaken internal party morale and affect voter confidence if grassroots structures and reward systems are not strengthened ahead of future electoral cycles.
Councils Running Without Full Cabinets
Independent findings by KosofePost suggest that many of the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) are currently being administered largely by chairmen without fully constituted cabinets. Reports indicate that some council heads may prefer the continuation of a directive suspending cabinet appointments, despite ongoing debates around local government autonomy and structural efficiency.
The development unfolds amid broader national conversations on local government independence. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has previously advocated stronger autonomy measures, particularly through reforms involving the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Calls for Urgent Clarification
Residents and party stakeholders alike say clarity from state authorities is urgently needed. They argue that functional and properly constituted council executives remain central to effective service delivery, policy coordination and accountability at the grassroots level.
As expectations build, political observers note that how the state resolves the delay may shape not only immediate governance outcomes but also internal party dynamics and public perception ahead of future electoral contests.