Lagos trains 376 councilors in discharging legislative duties

The Lagos State Government has organised a two-day capacity building Workshop for 376 councillors across the 57 councils of the state.

Adebayo Kehinde, Assistant Director, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, in a statement on Thursday, said the workshop was part of the efforts of the state government in ensuring that councillors are equipped with requisite skills to perform their legislative functions.

He said that the event which commenced on November 7 at Odeya Centre, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos is a “strategic effort of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development geared towards aligning Councillors with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the administration of the state governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to cascade these policies to the grassroots, thereby engendering social and infrastructural development at the grassroots.”

The workshop, which had speakers who engaged the councillors on conversations around VUCA Public Service, Training and Certification on the Legislative Process, Process of Making Laws in Nigeria and other valid issues, had in attendance the Commissioner for Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr Bolaji Kayode Robert.

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Robert applauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for providing the workshop to equip councillors to perform better as they discharge their legislative duties.

“Mr Bolaji (Robert) while delivering his keynote address, urged participants at the event to see the workshop as a platform to interface with other Councillors across the State to birth a synergy between the Chairmen and Councillors that would make the dream of a Greater Lagos possible and bring us closer to the reality of the Lagos of our dreams.

“He added that this workshop would be the berthing of conversations relating to efficient management of resources, creation of a better outlook and modality for governance, which would promote good governance at the grassroots and equally give clarity to governance through the appraisal of constitutional and political principles on which governance and law making at the grassroots is premised,” the statement read in part.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, while speaking with the press, reiterated the commitment of the State Government to continually build capacity for Councillors who have been entrusted with the responsibility of making laws at the Local Government Level, as it is the closest to the grassroots, hence the need to build strong foundation through strategic workshops such as this.

Earlier, while delivering her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, disclosed that the workshop was aimed at helping councillors to understand the principles behind making legislations that would engender productive and citizen-friendly collaborations with their principals at the various local governments.

Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Councillors Forum, Alimi Nurudeen, commended the state government for organising the workshop to keep councillors abreast with standard practices for local government legislation.

Also in attendance at the workshop were the Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General, State Treasury Office, Dr Biodun Muritala; the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa; the Director, Local Government Administration, Mr Razaq Amodu and other seasoned facilitators.