LGSC Holds Summit To Strengthen Grassroots Governance, Sustainable Development In Lagos

Yomi Durojaye 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening grassroots governance and enhancing service delivery across Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state. 

LGSC Holds Summit To Strengthen Grassroots Governance, Sustainable Development  In Lagos

Speaking at the 2025 Local Government Summit organised by the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), with the theme "Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Service Delivery in Local Government and Local Council Development Areas," Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the Commission for the summit, emphasising its role in deepening discussions on local governance. 

The Governor, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described Local Governments and LCDAs as the “bedrock of governance and development,” underscoring their critical function in bridging the gap between government and the people. 

He stated that grassroots governance must be people-centred, inclusive, and focused on delivering essential services efficiently. “As the closest tier of government to the people, Local Governments have a unique responsibility to lead in fostering inclusive development, promoting community participation, and delivering critical services effectively,” Sanwo-Olu said. 

Mr. Governor highlighted his administration’s efforts through the THEMES Plus Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure development, policy reforms, and capacity building to strengthen local governance. He cited the ongoing project commissioning across various LGAs and LCDAs as proof of the State’s commitment to making life more meaningful for residents. 

In his words, “This summit provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on challenges, share best practices, and collectively chart a way forward. I urge all participants to focus on actionable outcomes that will strengthen grassroots governance and instil public confidence in our Local Governments”.

Looking ahead to the upcoming local government elections, Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of free, fair, and credible polls, urging all political actors to uphold democratic values. “Our goal is Lagos where every citizen, regardless of their background, has access to quality services and opportunities. We envision a Lagos where grassroots governance is synonymous with transparency, accountability, and inclusivity,” he added. 

Also speaking at the Summit, held recently in the Lekki area of the State, Hon. Kamal Bayewu stressed the pivotal role of local councils as the foundation of socio-economic development in Lagos State. He described the summit as a significant platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of innovative ideas aimed at repositioning grassroots governance as the cornerstone of sustainable development.

 “With the theme ‘Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Service Delivery in Local Government and Local Council Development Areas’, this summit is not just an event; it is a platform for reflection, dialogue, and actionable strategies to improve service delivery and enhance the overall quality of life for Lagos residents”, the Chairman stated. 

Commending the visionary leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, he acknowledged the administration’s unwavering dedication to grassroots development through capacity building, infrastructure projects, and innovative policies that empower local councils. 

He also noted the importance of inclusive governance models that ensure no citizen is left behind. “Our goal is to create a Lagos where every resident, regardless of location or status, has access to quality services, equitable development, and a voice in governance,” he said. The Chairman urged participants at the Summit to engage actively in discussions, as the ideas generated at the forum would serve as a roadmap for the future of grassroots governance in Lagos State. 

Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Mrs. Abosede George, provided a comprehensive recap of the last summit, highlighting key resolutions and progress made in strengthening grassroots governance. 

She noted that previous deliberations had led to significant policy adjustments and strategic interventions aimed at improving service delivery at the local government level. According to her, one of the major outcomes was the adoption of capacity-building programmes for council officials, which have enhanced their efficiency in addressing the needs of the people. 

Mrs. George emphasised the importance of periodic engagements such as the Local Government Summit, stating that these gatherings serve as a critical platform for evaluating policies, sharing best practices, and addressing emerging challenges in local administration. The summit is expected to produce actionable strategies that will further enhance governance and service delivery across Lagos State. 

One of the facilitators at the event and former Chairman of the LGSC, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa outlined a comprehensive approach to improving governance and service delivery at the grassroots level in his presentation, emphasising the need for accountability, innovation, and citizen engagement. 

Lagos holds Interactive Session with Community Media Practitioners

 By Ayodele Ifasakin 

…harps on the importance of objective information gatekeeping

Lagos holds Interactive Session with Community Media Practitioners

Lagos State Government on Friday, August 28, 2024 has charged community media practitioners to be objective with their roles as information gatekeepers when dissemination news to the publics at the grassroots.

SSA to the Governor on Local Government and Rural Development; Mr Babatunde Durojaiye gave this charge while delivering his keynote address during an interactive session with community media practitioners at the State Secretariat earlier today.

Mr Durojaiye iterated that the interactive session is targeted towards equipping Community Media Practitioners with requisite knowledge on grassroots information dissemination that will foster goodwill for this administration, especially in projecting the policies, programmes and achievements of the Sanwo-Olu led Administration, implemented through the T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus Agenda.

He harped on the crucial role community media practitioners play in ensuring that the masses are properly informed on the programmes and policies of the Government and how they can benefit from it. This, he said, is the major gatekeeping role that community media practitioners should perform.

He added that the role of the community media practitioner is crucial in shaping the mindset of the people about their government, hence the need for them to always ensure that the publics are exposed to the numerous projects and policies being executed by the Government both in rural and urban areas, and should also ensure that Government is made aware of the plights and needs of the people.

He stressed that the administration of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has continued to invest into critical infrastructure needed in communities across the State and has also been providing grants and loans targeted majorly to rural dwellers who are into small and medium scale businesses in their communities.

“This is why it behoves on you as community media practitioners, who are information gatekeepers between the Government and the people at the grassroots to ensure policies and programmes of the Government that would benefit the people at the grassroots is properly disseminated to them, while also serving as a feedback medium for the Government”. He said.

Similarly, the Assistant Director, Public Affairs in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Mr Kehinde Adebayo, while delivering his welcome address, thanked Mr Governor for approving the Interactive Session since his assumption into office.

He stated that Interactive session such as this affords the Ministry the opportunity to have periodic interface with Community Media Practitioners, thereby creating a platform where these practitioners can be properly informed on the numerous projects the administration of Mr Governor has executed across the State.

Adebayo also stressed on the integral role community media practitioners play in a State like Lagos, adding that the role of an information gatekeeper is a privileged role that must be performed with integrity.

“While performing this role, we must ensure we are transparent about our biases and conflicts of interest, and ensure we do not use it to paint Government in a bad light or create agitations in our Communities. As an unbiased Gatekeeper, we need to be accountable to our communities, as well as the Government by ensuring we amplify the voices of those who need to be heard and douse the voices that can cause anarchy in the society”. He said.

Publisher of the Lead Lagos Community Newspaper in Amuwo-Odofin; Adejumo Abayomi, while speaking on behalf of the participants, applauded the administration of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for the continued inclusion of Community Media in information dissemination channels of the State.

He assured that Community Media Practitioners would continue to project the policies, programmes and the achievements of this administration across the 57 Councils of the State.

The interactive session which is the third of its kind since the inception of the administration of Mr Governor was well attended by seasoned facilitators and community media practitioners across the 57 Councils of the State.

Historic As Sanwo-Olu Holds EXCO Meeting Online

Lagos EXCO Makes History with First-Ever Virtual Meeting

Banters here and there, waving of hands and laughter.

“Can you see me?” Am I connected?” “Yeah, I’m here”.

AgegePulse Magazine

Suddenly, at about 11.05am, the Chairman enters and announces his presence by calling the house to order. All is quiet.

It was an exciting moment this morning at the Lagos State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting – the first-ever virtual meeting in the history of governance in the State. Nigeria? Well, not clear.

The Chairman is no other person than Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. The Deputy Chair is Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso said the meeting was held via Zoom, a free HD meeting application with video and screen sharing for up to 100 people.

It was all in compliance with the directive against gatherings as part of the anti-Coronavirus battle-plan.

“The meeting was slated for 10.45am but almost all EXCO members had hooked up to the system by 10.00am, awaiting the arrival of Mr. Governor to kickstart deliberations for the day,” Omotoso said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu came online at about 11.05am. On top of the agenda was the review of the management of COVID-19, especially the provision of additional isolation centres; the fumigation of the State against the spread of the virus, and the package for the less-privileged and daily income earners, the indigent.

“The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal briefed members on the distribution of the relief packages to local governments and local council development areas. Members reviewed areas where teething problems occurred and proffered ideas to solve identified problems,” he added.

There were comments by some members. As the debates and clarifications went on, the Chairman announced that those eager to speak should spend a minute each.

While acknowledging the excitement of members for being part of the first virtual meeting of the Lagos State Executive Council, the Commissioner said the feat affirmed that governance in Lagos will proceed seamlessly despite the 14-day restriction announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are on a 14-day lockdown.

“Members were in high spirits. Some of us were in our offices; others attended the online meeting from the comfort of their homes. With this historic achievement, residents are assured that governance in Lagos State will continue, irrespective of the situation around us,” Omotoso asserted.

The idea of the online meeting was mooted by Governor Sanwo-Olu, who directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to facilitate it. The Special Adviser (Innovation and Technology), Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, moderated the meeting, reading out the dos and don’ts of the session which Science and Technology Commissioner, Hakeem Fahm described as “historic”.

“We should let our people know about this,” Waterfront Infrastructure Development Commissioner, Kabiru Ahmed said excitedly after the meeting.

Lagos School Holds Maiden Mid-Term Excursion/ Welfare Package For Teachers

…To Encourage effective teaching and enhance teachers performance in the Teaching/ Learning process - Principal

Its A Laudable Initiative For Teachers - TGPS EDD1, Dr. Yinka Ayandele

In a bid to ensure that teachers make quality use of the usual mid-term break, the Principal of Government Junior College, Agege, Mrs. Alamu Bolanle Olusola has introduced the first of its kind welfare initiative for teachers in the school.

The school,which is under the umbrella of Lagos Education District One, Agege,  a district known for attaining many great feats when it comes to creativity in teaching and learning, added flair to the second mid-term break of the 2018/2019 academic session.

It is a popular knowledge that most school teachers always spend their mid-term break at home, and mainly occupied with abandoned house hold chores.She also said when you are doing a particular job in the  same way for some time, it will be one a routine and one might lose interest.

However, to change the mundane and to unleash their passion, Mrs Alamu organized a motivational excursion cum get-together for the relaxation of teachers under her watch and also for further exposure stating that their is no nation that can develop beyond the level of its teachers.This time, the teachers spent a part of the second term mid-term break outside the normal routine by going out on an excursion, visiting some heritage endowment sites across Lagos amidst lots of merriment. They visited the amazing Nduibusi Park in Lagos where the teachers were treated to delightful pleasure,they concluded the event at the Ikeja City Mall, ShopSite.

According to Mrs Alamu, the maiden excursion cum special welfare package for teachers in the school is to creatively change the mundane relaxation style of the teachers who spend their mid-term breaks mostly indoors. As we are in the era of creativity and innovative reforms in education, I thought of the best way to sustain the momentum that our teachers have been working on since the beginning of the term. Therefore, I came up with this Mid-term Excursion/Special Welfare Initiative.’

“The idea is to make our teachers come together during the short break to have fun that is tailored towards energizing them for the concluding part of the term. We believe this will bring out the best from our teachers and reflect in the outstanding  performance of students at the end of the term and ultimately at the end of the session.

“By the grace of God, this initiative will be an annual event as we desire to motivate and expose our teachers to many interesting educational stuffs that would consequently improve teaching and learning outcomes in class.” She concluded.

Mrs Alamu recognized efforts of the award winning and quintessential Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of EDD1 Dr. Yinka Ayandele, who has always encouraged school managers to be more creative in order to make teaching and learning interesting.

We appreciate our award winning mother for making this initiative a success and for finding time out of her busy schedule to celebrate and identify  with us. She is a mother, a mentor, a problem solver and an administrator per excellence, she eulogized.

Also, Mrs Alamu extended gratitude to the Executive Governor of Lagos state Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule for creating enabling environment for both teachers and students and for various  immense contributions towards improving the standard of teaching and learning in schools. Noting that construction of a beautiful twenty plus one block of classrooms and provision of treated water worth celebrating, adding that Governor Ambode's 23rd of every month never fails.

Equally, we appreciate the major sponsors of the maiden event, Bakery Solutions - Producers of BreadMeal Bread and two other anonymous donors who identified with us and trusted us with their resources to give the best welfare package to the teachers. We all say thank you.

In her goodwill remark,the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of EDD1 Dr. Yinka Ayandele lauded the initiative as an excellent idea. She commended Mrs Alamu and her team for taking teachers Motivation sacrosanct beyond the four walls of the school adding that this kind of creative initiative should be emulated.

In separate remarks, the Vice Principal of the school, Mr.D.D.S Ajose, Head of Mathematics Department, Mr Raphael Fawole and Mr. Oludare Akinode asserted that it used to be students going on excursion but with the maiden teachers motivational tour, it will further exhume the passion within the teachers, regenerate social lives among teachers and spur them to deliver effective teaching in the classroom.