LAGOS TRAINS 376 COUNCILLORS ON CAPACITY BUILDING

… Urges Councillors to Initiate Good Laws For Residents

As part of the efforts of the State Government to ensure that Councillors are equipped with the requisite skills to perform their legislative functions, the Lagos State Government has organised a two-day Capacity Building workshop for 376 Councillors across the 57 Councils of the State.

The event which commenced on Thursday 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 Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to cascade its policies to the grassroots, thereby engendering social and infrastructural development at the grassroots.

Speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Mr. Kayode Robert Bolaji applauded the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for approving the workshop towards equipping Councillors to effectively discharge their legislative duties.

Bolaji 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 them and the Chairmen that would make the dream of a Greater Lagos possible and bring everyone closer to the reality of the much-desired Lagos Vision.

He added that the workshop would focus on conversations relating to the efficient management of resources and the 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 are premised.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa 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 Levels, as it is the closest to the grassroots, hence the need to build strong foundation through strategic workshops.

Bolarinwa disclosed further that the essence of the workshop is to help Councillors make better legislation and to understand the principles behind making legislation that would engender productive and citizen-friendly collaborations with their principals at the various Local Government Levels.

She urged every participant to seize the opportunity to learn and relearn new ways of legislating while collaborating with their Chairmen in a way that citizens in their Councils would benefit from the dividends of democracy.

Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Councillors Forum, Honourable Alimi Nurudeen commended the State Government for organising the workshop to keep Councillors abreast with standard practices for Local Government Legislation. He added that the workshop would equip Councillors with improved methods to represent the good people of Lagos State as it concerns legislation and bringing the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots

Honourable Nurudeen also assured that Councillors would inculcate the lessons acquired from the workshop and use them to influence legislation that would improve the lives of citizens at the grassroots

®Lagos Community News Review