Kunle ADELABU
-Assures residents of better days ahead
-Unveils pictures of past council’s helmsmen
Hon. Adeola Adebisi Banjo, the Chairman of the Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) which is the largest coucil area in Lagos State, on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, blazed the trail in council’s stewardship accountability as he rendered his administration’s scorecard to mark his one year in office.
The Council helmsman, who handed-over the administration of the council to himself a year ago as the immediate past Executive Secretary, also assured the staff members of the council and the entire residents of Ikorodu North LCDA of better days ahead at the well attended event held at the council’s Secretariat in Isiu.
Present at the memorable celebration were past Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, political leaders and other stakeholders in the council.
Hon. Banjo, while given his record of activities in the last one year, stated that the experience has been hectic, challenging and interesting.
“Ever since I was sworn-in into the office, it has been hectic, challenging and ultimately, interesting. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. I think that the adage is for only the good head that really wants to work.
“Since my assumption of duty, I have done only one thing, and that is continuously seeking creative ways to make Ikorodu North a better place for all its inhabitants.
“Ikorodu North has been enjoying the grace of God. We have been increasing in leaps and bounds despite several daunting challenges.
“My hardworking team and I, since assumption of office, have been able to hit the ground running.
“Coming in as the Executive Chairman, I have told myself not to be limited by the paucity of funds. I was sure no one would listen to such excuse, so, I am proud to stand before you all today to authoritatively say we have done creditably well within the first 365 days of our administration in Ikorodu North LCDA.
Hon. Banjo stated that the state of the council buildings were poor when he came in except the main administrative building constructed by Hon. Adeola Jokomba’s administration, thus, the need to make them befitting for serious work.
“When I came in, apart from the main building, other structures were in a very poor state. The buildings are not fewer than three decades old if I have to be modest. Therefore, for us to make the best use of them, I owe it a responsibility to give them a facelift so as to meet contemporary standard.
“This is where we started from. But we did not rejuvenated our compound at the expense of the good people of Ikorodu North. While we were doing this, we were of course doing other impactful projects to better the lot of our people.
“Governance is the act of allocating scare resources to projects that would best impact on the common man. In the last 365 days, this administration has been able to record the following successes:
“The execution of a project each in the five wards of Ikorodu North, ranging from the construction of culvert at Lambo Lasunwon, opposite Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu; provision of borehole facilities at Ward C2, Erikorodo and Igbaga – Adamo and construction of drainage at Adamo to mention but a few”, Hon. Banjo stated.
“Construction of 600 metres road with covered drainages, street lights and walk-way at Ita Oloja in Odogunyan.
“Quarterly distribution of White Marker boards to schools within Ikorodu North LCDA.
“Distribution of exercise books, mathematical sets and other educational materials to pupils within the council.
“Renovation/extension of Parafa Health Centre to mitigate the pains and agonies of pregnant women and new born babies when they visit the health centre; purchase of Motorbike and Walkie talkie to Onyabo Vigilante Group.
“Also, training of over three thousand beneficiaries in various skills at the ongoing acquisition programme; refurbishment of the Head of Human Resources administrative office and asphalting/beautification of secretariat compound.
“House numbering project ; donation of gifts/drugs to new babies on October 1st which coincided with my birthday; facilitation of the reconstruction of Olohunda Health Centre and Procurement of hospital equipment and other service materials to Odo-Nla Primary Health Care Centre.
Hon. Banjo also stated that within the year in consideration, his administration also:
”Made payment of the year 2017 annual subvention to the Community Development Committee (CDC); purchased Serena bus for Revenue purposes; Grading of over 155 roads within Ikorodu North; Flag-off of Banjo Super Cup; Reconstruction of Isiu roundabout entrance and Printing/distribution of campaign materials to sensitise residents of Ikorodu North on Chicken Pox among others.”
“This list can go on and on. As a council, we embarked on a few other projects which will soon materialize and then count them as parts of what we have done.
Hon. Banjo also revealed that his modest achievements have earned him the award as Best Performing Chairman in Lagos State.
“In my wildest dream, I have never thought I would be getting a national award in recognition of our outstanding performances. I was nominated for the Local Government Merit Award of the federation and I was among the six Chairmen nominated in the whole of Lagos State.
“I was in my office when someone came to see me and informed me that I have won the award as Best Performing Local Government Chairman in Lagos State.
He assured the residents of the council that better days are coming.
“Let me equally seize this medium to assure the good people of the ‘tower of resources’ that we are not tired. Better days are coming. We understand where the shoes pinched. We are seeking new ways to understand Ikorodu North better.
“Agbede alone, which is part of the council, should be a local government on his own because of its large population and size. I paid a visit to the area recently and our skill acquisition programme that is going on there can has 2000 beneficiaries who are being trained in various skills.
‘I equally took few other inspection tour of other areas of the council to have first-hand information about them. This is to assist in guiding us to know how best to allocate our limited resources.
Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, a former Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, while speaking at the event, stated that the chairman has performed excellently well.
“Banjo has performed excellently well. He has not disappointed us and I want to appeal to the people of Ikorodu North to give him the chance and maximum supports.
“The foundation of the successes you are witnessing in Ikorodu North LCDA was laid by Banjo’s predecessors. And you can only appreciate this when you compare the development here with other councils in Ikorodu division.
The Chairman, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ikorodu North LCDA Chapter, Comrade Onileyan Moruf, in his goodwill message, stated that Banjo’s administration has performed to expectations.
“We have witnessed many administrations of different chairmen in Ikorodu North Local Development Area delivering the dividends of democracy, but this administration has performed beyond expectations in transforming the council and providing a conducive environment”, he said.
“As part of this administration’s tradition, the chairman always put smiles on the faces of our staff members regarding their welfare.
“Since inception, Hon. Banjo has provided the following to the entire workforce: December bonus, Eid-il-Fitri bonus, May Day bonus, Medical assistance to at least 20 staff members, provision of office furniture and equipment, rehabilitation of offices and the purchase of Revenue bus”.
Mr Oduntan, the Chairman, School-Based Management Committee, commended the chairman for his impact in the educational sector of the council.
“Through the efforts of the chairman, intervention is going on in 14 of the 16 primary schools in the council.
“He has distributed Mathematical sets, books, white boards and many other educational materials to all the schools” , Mr Oduntan stated.
The representative of the Baale-in-Council, Chief Jaiyesimi, also commended the chairman for impacting positively on the rural areas.
At the programme, portraits of past chairmen, sole administrators and executive secretaries of the council such as Hon. Kunle Ogunbela, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, Prince Muhydeen Jokomba, Alhaja Shukurat Okeowo and Hon. Adeola Banjo were unveiled in the corridor of the main secretariat building.
Dignitaries at the ceremony were Alhaji Akibu Adewunmi, former Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Alhaji Ogunleye, APC Chieftain, Prince Adeola Jokomba, former Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Mrs toyin Salau, former Chairman, APC Ikorodu North, Elder Laja Martins, Dr Olasunkanmi Odesanya, the Head of Administration, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Ola Ameen Apanisile, the Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA among many others.
