…installs 12 traditional rulers in nine months
By Moses Adeniyi
The Lagos State Government has said that it has paid a sum of N269.7million to families of deceased staff of Local Governments and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as insurance packages.
According to the State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, on Tuesday during the ongoing Ministerial Briefing at the State Capital, Ikeja, in commemoration of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led Administration second year in office, the money was paid to families of 160 deceased staff of LGs/LCDAs and SUBEB.
“In the year under review, the Ministry ensured the release of claims to 160 beneficiaries of deceased employees of SUBEB and LGAs/LCDAs, amounting to N269,697,458.75 by LASACO Assurance PLC,” he said.
The Commissioner also said a total of 154 Marital Documents were released to LGAs/LCDAs, with 21 Special License Approvals, two Church License Approvals and two Renewal of Approvals.
He added that through the Local Government Administration Department, the Ministry was able to initiate and coordinate the flag-off of the 377 state-wide project initiative by the present Administration.
The project covered 257 roads, 86 buildings, 23 electrification, nine boreholes and two jetties to link communities across the state, thereby making communities accessible and as a result, engendered socio-economic activities at the grassroots.
Meanwhile, the State Government in nine months has installed 18 new traditional rulers, just as it mediated in 12 boundary disputes among communities across the state.
The breakdown of the installation carried out by the State’s Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs showed that of the 18 Obas, five were First Class while 13 others, were Second Class Obas.
It was gathered that some of the activities of the Ministry in the last two years centered on monthly meetings with Community Development Advisory Councils (CDACs) to discuss sustainability of Government programmes; convening the annual Community Day Celebration to showcase the worth, value, culture, tradition and importance of all communities and Community Development Associations (CDAs), with a view to further inspire community participation in governance.
Also were construction of halls in Topa-Badagry, Local Government Areas (LGAs); Otunla-Ibeju Lekki, LGA; Ojogbe-Ikorodu, LGA, to serve as points of convergence for CDAs/CDCs meetings, prevent street partying and also to serve as Viewing centres cum Vocational Training Centres.
Others centered on welfare and capacity building of traditional rulers (Obas and Chiefs) in the State; resolving chieftaincy and boundary disputes; tour of all LGAs and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs); supervision and development of the 382 registered markets in the State with the inauguration of a 21-man Market Advisory Council.
Also, were monitoring of project; enlightenment campaign; research survey; valuation exercises of state properties; and rapid road construction.
Empowerment programmes implemented by the State Government through the Ministry include empowerment for grassroots fish processors in riverine fishing Communities; community aquaculture development projects in four divisions of the State with 80 fish farmers beneficiaries; multiplication of bio-fortified food crops and fish to boost nutrition; and development of.apiculture with training of beneficiaries, among others.
Also, were water project management and sustenance of 25 Micro Water Scheme executed in 35 communities across the 57 LCAs/LCDAs as well as rehabilitation of dilapidated Micro Water Schemes and Small Scale Solar-Powered Water Projects across the State.
According to the State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, on Tuesday during the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Administration in office; the impacts of the Ministry’s effort have led to rural electrification; increased economic development; social development; increased demand for housing; ease in vehicular-movement, leading to noticeable reduction in travel-time and reduction in urban-rural drift.
He mentioned that the Ministry under his watch had within the period under review, leveraged on the meticulous effort of the Standing Tribunal of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters to ensure that Chieftaincy matters were resolved in a way and manner that had efficiently reduced acrimony in the various communities.
He said the welfare and capacity building of Obas and Chiefs in the State had remained a priority of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration and that the Ministry had ensured that the priority of the governor was actualised.
“This has also ensured continued improvement in Government-traditional rulers’ relationship, such that traditional Institutions are working in tandem with the State Government to ensure that the dividends of governance reach the grassroots.
“Between June 2020 and March 2021, the Ministry through the Chieftaincy Department has successfully installed 18 Obas (Traditional Rulers). Of these 18 Obas; 5 are First Class Obas and 13 are Second Class Obas.
“It is important to note here that these installations were conducted peacefully because of mediation that resulted into harmonious resolutions in all the ruling houses,” he said.
On boundary matters, the Commissioner stated that the Ministry had ensured communal peace at the grassroots, especially in communities that had boundary issues, through its prompt and periodic arbitration and adjudication, thereby averting situation that might result into breakdown of law and order.
“This has ensured peaceful communal existence and zero-level of communal clashes. The resultant effect is the ease of doing business and continued economic growth as Lagos residents undergo and undertake their daily businesses without fear of chaos or communal clashes.
“This has been effective because the ministry has in the past one year leveraged on the good relationship the State Government has with Traditional Leaders and Community Leaders,” he said.
The commissioner added that members and leaders of communities were equally being engaged continually to ensure peaceful co-existence among residents.
“The Ministry is presently adjudging twelve boundary disputes in the State. Two of these boundary issues have been resolved while the rest are ongoing,” he said.
Ahmed further stated that the Ministry, through the Monitoring Department, in conjunction with the Public Affairs Unit, conducted enlightenment campaigns on the importance of environmental sanitation and desilting of drainages across markets in the 57 LGs/LCDAs of the State and also engaged Community Development Associations in this effort.
He mentioned that all completed and ongoing projects, programmes and activities embarked upon by the 57 LGs/LCDAs across the State were also monitored and inspected to ensure that all projects met the State Government’s standards.
The commissioner added that the Ministry also resolved conflicts relating to change of names of streets in Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Isolo LCDA, Owu-Ikosi Ejirin LCDA, Ikotun and Agbado-Oke –Odo LCDAs.
On community development, he said in the year under review, the Ministry engaged citizens at the grassroots through monthly meetings held with Communities and engaging the Development Advisory Council to discuss sustainability of government programmes, policies, projects, activities, initiatives and innovations, among others.
Ahmed noted that with the participatory involvement of over 4,000 CDAs across the 57 LGs/LCDAs, the Ministry had engaged the grassroots and had continued to enjoy support and cooperation of these CDAs, CDCs and CDAC.
“The synergy has resulted into many self-help projects, community policing, maintenance and security of public infrastructures and government projects in their various communities.”