Kunle Adelabu
In preparation of the year 2020 budget for Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division of Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, the council administration, under the chairmanship of Comrade Sesan Daini, on Monday, November 25, 2019, engaged critical stakeholders in the council to get their inputs into the process.
Present at the well-attended stakeholders’ meeting, which was held at the Mikkson Onas Hall, located along Bola Ahmed Tinubu road in Igbogbo, were traditional leaders, political leaders, representatives of the five political wards in the council, students, market men and women, artisans, Community Development Associations, Cultural groups, Council’s staff and NGOs among others.
Comrade Daini, while addressing the gathering, said that:
“I am exceedingly filled with joy to have the privilege of welcoming all our distinguished guests to this epoch-making event to collectively appraise and appreciate the performance of last year’s stakeholders’ meeting and to also discuss, identify and contribute to the developmental plans that will be considered for 2020 budgetary provisions.
“Aside this, it is mandatory in a democratic setting for every group of the citizenry to be organized and represented in a stakeholders’ forum to suggest their needs for consideration in the budget.
“I am delighted to inform you that your previous contributions had been helpful in driving the council’s short, medium and long term goals. These have placed the council in an enviable prominent position among the league of councils”.
Comrade Daini listed construction of a new ultra- modern office complex which is currently under construction, refurbishment of Elepe Area Office of the council, renovation of the council’s annex office to accommodate MOPOL 63, donation of 2 transformers to Paul Palmer and Ibeshe communities as,parts of his administration’s achievements.
Other areas of impacts of the council under the administration of Comrade Daini are acquisition of JCB Mechanical Backhoe, donation of mini-bus to the Nigeria Police, purchase of official vehicles to the executive members and legislators and purchase of 2 revenue buses.
In the educational sector, Daini stated that his administration has, in the last one year, presented bursary award to indigent students, restructured existing vocational centre to an educational institute, constructed a block of classrooms and an office at the LG Primary School, Igbe, purchased and distributed GCE and JAMB forms for students, fenced Bayeku Primary Health Centre, heightened Elepe Primary School fence, provided chairs tables at Lajo Primary School and the construction of ultra-modern Kaniyi/Adeboruwa market.
Other areas where Comrade Daini’s administration have impacted positively on the people of the council are rehabilitation of road and drainage, women advocacy and poverty alleviation, health and environmental health services.
While enjoining those in attendance to take advantage of the meeting to express their needs for consideration in the next year’s budget, Comrade Daini also appealed to them to support his administration and help it in achieving it’s set goals by paying their taxes and levies promptly.
Expressions of Areas of Needs By Participants
The meeting also featured a marathon interactive session during which the representatives of various wards in the council expressed their areas of needs for consideration in the next year’s budget.
Ward C1:
The representative of Ward C1 requested for the Council’s intervention in the repair of the vandalized transformer at Club 24 which, according to him, has put the area in darkness.
He also called for the desilting of drainages in the ward.
Ward C2:
The attention of the Council was called to the threatening nature of flood in the ward and the danger it poses to residents and their properties, particularly in Zumratul area of Igbogbo and construction of drainage in the axis.
Ward C3:
The representative of the area enjoined the Council Chairman to ensure that the rehabilitation of Bayeku, Offin and Oreta roads are listed in the budget while also calling for the rehabilitation of the Bayeku Maternity Centre which the community is in need of urgent government attention since their efforts to put it in good shape had fallen short of what is required.
Ward C4:
Mrs Toyin Phillips and Mr Adelakun Abayomi spoke on behalf of the ward and made lengthen demands and appealed to the chairman to include them in the 2020 budget.
Both representatives called for the rehabilitation of Oke Ota and Abule Oshin roads and completion of Ajose – Oke Ota road
While they claimed that the population in the area has surpassed the available facilities, the representatives called for the establishment of more Primary and Secondary Schools in Ibeshe and environs, while also requesting for the provision of benches, chairs and other facilities in Methodist Primary School in Ibeshe.
Another area of concern for the community, according to the representatives, is their Primary Health Centre which they said needs urgent government attention to be able to effectively serve the residents.
They also pleaded with the council to assist in constructing a town hall in Ibeshe.
Ward C5:
The community which is said to be facing hardship due to the bad condition of their road, sought the council’s intervention on the collapsed Igbe road to ease the movement of residents and vehicles as well as the provision of a Primary Health Centre.
Also, some representatives of the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the council were equally in attendance to make demands on behalf of their communities.
Mrs Florence Akojo, who spoke on behalf of the Elepe Community Development Association (CDA), pleaded with the council to intervene in the flooding problem confronting Elepe Primary School, stating that the situation is threatening school’s structures.
She also stated that the school is in dire need of chairs and tables to prevent pupils from sitting on the floor.
Mrs Akojo also requested for the rehabillitation and upgrade of the Primary Health Centre in the area as well as urgent provision of beds for the centre, while also calling on the government’s attention on Oba Ijaolu road.
More so, representative of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in the council was also at the meeting to make inputs to the proposed budget.
Elder Olowu, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA CDC, while enjoining the council chairman to give serious consideration to the demands of the stakeholders, also requested for a secretariat for the CDC in the council and support of the council towards the 2019 Community Day.
Alhaji S.A Dairo, who represented market associations in the council, called for the enforcement of the law against illegal street trading, especially in Elepe community and also pleaded with the chairman to see to the security challenge in the community.
Mr Tunde Momoh, while making contribution on behalf of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), called for partnership between the council and stakeholders in the community while he enjoined residents to support the government by paying their levies.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), in his own contribution, commended the council chairman and his team for the achievements recorded so far and for organising the meeting to enable residents to make input into the year 2020 budget.
While enjoining the communities in the council to always report cases of transformer and cable vandalisation to the police for action, the elder statesman also assured that more communities wouldl be given transformers by Comrade Daini-led administration.
He also informed the gathering that the state government would soon commence construction works on the abandoned Ipakodo-Igbgbo-Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Agric-Ishawo roads, stating that the Lagos Assembly has approved the Governor’s request for the funding of two projects.
Furthermore, Asiwaju Basorun also announced that the rehabilitation/upgrade of Igbogbo Township Stadium has been included in the State government’s budget for year the 2020.
Other dignitaries at the event were Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of igbogbo, Oba Ruchard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya (represented by Hon. Mathew Adesanya), Hon.Babajimi Benson (represented by Mayor Deen Sanwoola), Hon. Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, former acting Commissioner for Tourism and Special Adviser on Arts & Culture, Hon. Gboyega Titilola, Vice Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Barr. Ade Ayeni, Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Yeye Asiwaju Bolanle Basorun, formr Executive Secretary, Igbobo/Bayeku LCDA, Mr Taiwo Orenuga, former Sole Administrator, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Chief Bakare, former Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Nurudeen Alimi, Council Leader, Igbgbo/Bayeku LCDA among many others.
