As the closest arm of government to the grassroots, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has urged the newly elected chairmen of local government and local council development areas to prioritise making life better for their constituents, engage constantly with various groups and community associations, and ensure a harmonious working relationship with fellow elected officials.
Obasa’s robust admonition was delivered at a leadership summit for LGAs/LCDAs with the theme: ‘Capacity Building and Orientation for Effective Local Governance’, held in the expansive Lateef Jakande Hall of the Assembly Complex, Thursday, August 28.
Organised by the House of Assembly, the summit was attended by all the chairmen, vice-chairmen, council leaders, and majority leaders of Lagos State’s 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs.
In his keynote address, delivered extemporaneously, Obasa highlighted the Assembly’s role in shaping local government administration through key legislation, including extending officials’ tenure from three to four years, establishing the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), creating the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments, and enacting the Local Government Administration Law 2025, which reforms local government structures, tenure, and executive transitions.
He noted that the summit aimed to address grassroots leaders’ scant understanding of the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities, which has led to violations of its authority.
According to the Speaker, “The house is ready to work with the local governments. We strongly believe that we are one and that we are members of the same family, which is why we must work together as one. We are not going to witch hunt any local government. We are here to encourage you. We are members of the same family, and so we must be able to talk to one another.”
He advised them to ensure constant engagement and interaction with Community Development Areas (CDAs), artisans, market women, and all such groups and associations.
Continuing, he said that the most important thing is to deliver democracy dividends to the people who wilfully gave them their mandate in the first place. Refusal to do the needful for the people, Obasa added, is why successive elections have witnessed a low voter turnout in the state.
“If our votes are dwindling, we should blame the local government chairmen. Don’t just say you only want to make money and will spend eight years without achieving anything. It is when you serve the people that you will benefit. Ensure that you provide what you promised the people so that life after office will be convenient for you. There is no amount of money you appropriate that will sustain you if you do not serve the people,” he said.
Rather than allocating local government land solely for commercial purposes, Obasa advised investing in community-focused projects like parks, maternity centres, and support for children and residents. “We are here to support you, but we need your performance, not your money,” he stressed.
On the relationship between chairmen and their deputies and councillors, the Speaker called for collaboration and transparency, saying, “Your councillors are your partners, not your subjects or subordinates. You’re all partners in progress. And you must accord them the same respect you expect from them. To the councillors and vice-chairmen, you must be loyal. If you are not happy with your boss, seek an audience with them and explore every avenue of resolution. Learn to resolve issues in-house. Before you go to the media, come to the House of Assembly or reach out to me with your complaints.”
The height of the summit was the presentation of copies of a compendium, which the Speaker said contains all the laws regulating the establishment and administration of local governments and local council development areas in the state. “Try and study the book to make progress,” the Speaker quipped.
Responding, the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon. Sesan Olowa, who also serves as the Chairman of Conferences 57, thanked the speaker for his wise admonition and promised to adhere to his charges. He pledged that the council chairmen would work harmoniously with stakeholders and the councillors to entrench grassroots development. Olowa added that they would continue doing their best for the people.
