Politics
THE Lagos State Government has engaged Community Development Associations and members of Community Development Committees in the state to take ownership of some of its community-based projects for adequate monitoring, management and supervision.
According to Muslim Folami, commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, the various CDAs and CDCs across the state currently provide a platform through which government tests the viability of its plans, policies and programmes and also obtains feedback from members of the public on the acceptability of government projects.
Folami spoke while rendering the account of stewardship of the ministry in the last one year to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said that the 117 community roads delivered by the State Government in all the LGAs and LCDAs have been handed over to members of CDAs and CDCs to manage and maintain in conjunction with the Sole Administrators of the various councils.
The commissioner declared that in the last one year, the governor had in addition to the already delivered 117 roads, executed several other community-friendly policies like, inauguration and revival of the market committee, adding that the Governor has also directed LGAs and LCDAs to ensure that monthly allowances are given to CDAs to power light and maintain street lights on newly delivered roads.
“In its unwavering efforts to sustain community development, the State government also distributed three branded vehicles to the best three communities that excelled in self- help development initiatives in the State and gave cash prizes to seven CDAs as consolation prizes as a way of encouraging community-communalism” the Commissioner stated.
He declared that the Centre for Rural Development, CERUD, under the ministry within the period under review trained 256 youths and students in computer appreciation as well as 105 women in various income-generating skills.
Folami added that another initiative by the government in grassroots development campaign recorded in 2016 was the Market Branding Programme and Community Media Campaign which increased the synergy between the present administration and the communities.
“The Monthly Community Media Forum, comprising over 30 print, online and electronic media reporting the communities became a valuable platform for Lagosians to access the programmes of government as it affects them individually and collectively,” Folami said.
The commissioner reaffirmed that the promise made by the State government to upgrade LASU and LASPOTECH FM stations will be fulfilled before the end of the second quarter of this year, assuring that other projects like community radio in five locations are also being considered.
He emphasised that “these stations are expected to take advantage of the high penetration of mobile application users in the State and will be managed by the community development committee in our LGAs and LCDAs while the technical support will be provided by the State government”.
“It is our target before the end of the year to have capacity training for the political office holders at the LG level, introduce electronic payment systems across the 20 LGs and 37LCDAs and automate our internally generated revenue for this administration,” the commissioner stated.
— May 8, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT
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