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Ambode shifts reforms to councils, may sack 57 Exec Secretaries

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There are strong indications that the on-going restructuring and reforms in the Lagos State Civil Service will soon be extended to the 20 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs in the state.Presently, the affairs of the councils are being managed by Executive secretaries appointed in the twilight of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration to replace the former chairmen after the expiration of their tenure, pending the conduct of fresh election.

The implication of this is that the 57 executive secretaries may be replaced by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in order to conduct a credible election into the offices, considering the fact that Ambode’s reforms have been characterized by several replacements of heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs.

It is instructive to note that Ambode, at a recent public function, had pledged to embark on local government reforms with the aim of making the 57 councils more responsive to the needs of the people.

The governor, who made the remarks during a parley with members of the various Community Development Associations, CDAs, Community Development Councils, CDC and other stakeholders, said the intention of his administration was to give governance back to the people in line with his objective of running an all-inclusive government.

Inclusive government

He said his administration’s commitment to make community governance the spring board for economic and social development in the state, prompted the establishment of a Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs which has thus placed community development in the heart of its policy formation.

The career civil servant governor, upon assumption of office, set up a Local Government Reform Committee headed by Mr. Nurudeen Adeyinka Ojora-Adejiyan in a bid to reposition the councils’ system for better service delivery and ensure even development and synergy in governance in the State.

The committee, after deliberations, urged the state government to cascade major reforms of the state public service to the local government level. The committee was mandated to examine the structure and current practice of local government administration in the state, identify factors militating against optimum performance and quality service delivery by local governments and examine the modalities for instituting inter service exchange of staff, knowledge and skills between the state and local government services.

In his comment at the  presentation of the report to the Head of Service, Mrs Folashade Jaji, Ojora-Adejiyan disclosed that the committee made very starling findings that revealed that local government system had become a shadow of itself, grappling with structural, funding and administrative problems.

The committee therefore, called for a review of local government administration law and other laws regulating the operations of local government in the state. It also called for a functional template to assess the performance of local governments based on available resources and context of operations to be evolved for local government system.

The committee also discovered that there was inadequate community participation characterized by seeming disconnection between the communities and managements of local government which has created a huge service gap with on adverse effect on its service delivery capacity to the people.

Execution of policies

“We however, recommend that local governments should as a matter of policy involve community development associations and other stakeholders from the planning to execution of policies and projects, thus ensuring that the yearnings and aspirations of the people are met the committee chairman said.

The committee came up with the recommendations, following cutting edge consultations with inputs of critical stakeholders. Furthermore, in order to curb fraudulent acts in the local government system, the committee recommended strict sanctions on any officials and local government personnel found culpable.

Ojora said: “There is no doubt that Ambode will make positive use of this as he understands the place of the Local Government in governance and had met with Executive Secretaries to sensitize them on the various reforms going on in the state and the need to bring everyone on board as the reform is critical for even development and progress.”

Presently, the state governor is critically looking at the recommendation of the committee aimed at ensuring prompt implementation for the benefit of the people.

Tour of 57 councils: To this end, last week,  Ambode concluded plans to embark on a tour of the 57 local governments in the state, saying it would afford him the opportunity to listen to the challenges of the people first hand and address them accordingly. “We believe strongly that we should scale up community governance in this state. It is more about communities, its more about our people and what they want,” he said.

Lagos assembly on budget template for 57 councils

Lagos State House of Assembly, recently, fashioned out a standard budget template for all the 20 Local Government Areas, (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas, (LCDAs), in the state. The House, through the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, had earlier approved the  2015 budget estimates for LGs/LCDAs, following the report of a 7-man Ad-hoc Committee.

The committee which was inaugurated on June 18, 2015, and chaired by Hon Rotimi Abiru, submitted its findings to the House on July 30, 2015. Members of the Committee include: Bisi Yusuff, Yinka Ogundimu, Adekanye Oladele, Mojeed Fatai, Lawal Mojisola Lasbat and Alimi Kazeem. The 7th Legislative Assembly had earlier, mandated its house committee to carry-out the exercise in consonance with Section 3 of the Local Government Council Committee Law, 2007, which states inter alia that:

Estimates ofrevenue

“The Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Local Government in accordance with the provisions of Sections 33, 34 and 40 of the Local Government (Administration) Law. Provided that with respect to the preparation of annual estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Local Governments, such shall be laid before the House of Assembly for debate and approval.”

Based on the above law the committee swung into action but could not conclude the assignment before the dissolution of the House on Monday, 1st June, 2015. The findings of the committee, revealed that most LGAs and LCDAs in the state performed poorly in the area of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), hence, their reliance on Federal Allocation.

That the overhead estimate of the LGAs and LCDAs in the state were bloated to the detriment of the capital expenditure which does not augur well for development at the grass roots as well showing that the Councils do not have a uniform template for budget preparation.  To this effect, the Ad-hoc committee chairman directed all the council representatives to appear with all the documents which include capital receipts, Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) from January till date, breakdown of the overhead cost, breakdown of teachers’ salaries and bank statements.

Abiru said the purpose of the exercise was to prepare a uniform template for the councils. He therefore, urged councils to give priority to capital expenditure that would enhance physical development at the grassroots.

PDP reacts

Meantime, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos chapter had accused Ambode, of planning to delay the yet-to-be conducted local council elections in the state. PDP had claimed that the All Progressives Congress-led government in Lagos was not interested in conducting elections into the local government councils. Its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, also accused the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, of working with the APC to delay the polls.

The statement said, “The Lagos State chapter of the PDP has reiterated her conclusion that the APC government in Lagos is not popular among the electorates, especially for any grass roots elections and as such deliberately frustrating the conduct of local council polls long overdue since October 2014.

“The PDP has at this time accused LASIEC as an electoral body which has exposed itself as an appendage of APC in the state and not at all independent in its decisions and administration.” According to Gani, Ambode was planning to delay the polls until after one year in office.

“The delay to conduct council polls in Lagos is deliberate to eventually give undue advantage to the APC. The defence put up by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters (who was quoted to have blamed the delay in the conduct of the council polls on the Independent National Electoral Commission claiming that the electoral body has not concluded the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards and thus the polls cannot be conducted at this time) is preposterous, repulsive and clearly an indication that APC will turn out to be a party of impunity and inconsistencies,” he said.

The Lagos PDP’s spokesman further alleged that the state’s councils were operating contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. “This is an aberration to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees only democratically elected local government administration. The APC is unpopular and thus avoiding any grass roots election,” Gani said.

NCP sues Lagos INEC on failure to hold LGs poll

The national Conscience Party, NCP, had taken the state government to court over the delay in the conduct of LGs poll. The case number LD/318MJR/15, NCP/Lagos INEC which was filed before Hon Justice A.M Lawal, sitting at the foyer court 53, Lagos High Court, Igbosere was later adjourned for hearing to sometime in October, 2015. Adeleke Akele, a chieftain of NCP, however expressed optimism that justice will be done at the hearing by the court.

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Thou saith the lord, make AIG Fayoade Adegoke the new IG of police, prophet Ikuru tells Tinubu

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By Collins Nkwocha

 

 

The prophetic hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry is one of the leading prophets on the African continent, having witnessed the fulfilment of numerous stunning prophecies, prophet Ikuru is indeed God’s mouthpiece and oracle of the End time.

 

Prophet Ikuru who was on the mountain for seven days to seek the face of God has told the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make AIG Fayoade Adegoke the Inspector General of police to bring the needed transformation and reform in the police ” I love this country and I will continue to love this country, it’s because I love this country that God keep giving revelations concerning the nation,God said that I should tell the president to make AIG Fayoade Adegoke the new IG of police in Nigeria because God is interested in the affairs of the police in Nigeria,as a prophet of God, I’m mandated to bring hope and restoration to people, that’s exactly what I’m doing”

 

AIG Adegoke heads the Zone 2 Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos.He is one of the police officers that has distinguished himself and shown that he has what is required to make the Nigerian police effective and efficient.

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Welcome back to Lagos, prophet applauds Tinubu

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As the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu arrives Lagos for Yuletide, the prophet of the nation,the prophetic hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has expressed his utmost delight in seeing the president return to Lagos,a state he resided and ruled for 8 years before he became the president.

Prophet Ikuru reiterated that the president is navigating the nation through obstacles, impediments and would ultimately make Nigeria a dream nation ” I want to officially welcome Mr.president back to Lagos, he’s a man that i love so much because he has also given so much for this nation,God will continue to bless him as he navigates the nation through this difficult period”

He urged Nigerians to keep faith with the president because his reform programmes are genuine and would ultimately be to the boon of the country

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Foundation offers free medical care to over 300 widows, orphans

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In a society where the less privileged are often overlooked, the Mercy Ogbuehi Widows & Orphans Foundation has bridged the gap by reaching out to help.

Founded by Barrister Nnenna Uchegbu, the foundation was established in honour of her late mother, Lolo Mercy Ogbuehi.

The Late Lolo Mercy Ogbuehi was a woman who embodied generosity in its purest form.

“She was accommodating, charitable, and homely,” said the foundation’s secretary, Oladipupo Uchechukwu Stephen. “She welcomed children who were not her own and ensured no one left her small buka (local restaurant) hungry.”

Her buka, situated in a remote town somewhere in Abia State, Nigeria became more than a place for meals; it was a haven for the community. Mercy’s innate ability to care for others, especially the less privileged, became the cornerstone of her daughter’s vision. Barrister Nnenna sought to expand on her mother’s acts of kindness, creating a foundation dedicated to uplifting widows, orphans, and the less privileged.

One of the foundation’s unique goals is its emphasis on empowerment through education and skill acquisition.

As Oladipupo explained, “We don’t just equip people with what to eat; we teach them how to get what to eat. It’s the essence of the proverb: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Since its inception, the foundation has been running free skill acquisition programs, beginning with two classes in catering and industrial training in 2017. Today, the programs have expanded to include seven to eight fields, such as fashion design, shoemaking, hairdressing, computer literacy, and more.

Graduates of these programs are equipped not just with knowledge but with tools to jumpstart their careers. Participants in fashion design receive sewing machines, those with computer literacy are given brand-new laptops, and catering graduates are provided with essential equipment or startup funds.

“This December 19th marks our 15th graduation ceremony,” Oladipupo proudly noted. “We’ll empower widows with sewing machines and others with tools and funds to bring their skills to life.”

Over the past seven years, the foundation has grown into a hub of opportunity for many. Its focus on sustainability ensures that participants not only acquire skills but also build livelihoods that last.

The foundation also caters to the younger generation through its annual summer coaching programs. These sessions are open to orphans and children from the community, offering educational support that goes beyond the classroom. “This is not just for children within the foundation but for all children in the community,” Oladipupo emphasized.

Beyond education and skills training, the foundation recognizes the importance of healthcare for the less privileged. Friday Ogbuehi, the foundation’s director and brother to Barrister Nnenna, noted their impactful medical outreach programs.

“Our medical outreach aims to attend to about 350 beneficiaries, primarily widows and orphans,” Friday shared. These outreaches offer services like pulse, blood pressure, and blood sugar monitoring, as well as massages, dental care, and free medications. “We ensure that every participant leaves healthier and more informed about their well-being.”

What began as a small gesture of kindness in a local buka has grown into a robust foundation impacting lives in numerous ways. The foundation not only supports immediate needs but also builds a future for the underprivileged through empowerment and education.

“Through the foundation, we are honouring my mother’s legacy by creating a lasting impact,” said Friday.

The “Graduation/Christmas Party for the newly trained Widows and Orphans is scheduled for the 19th of December 2024.

The 2024 Children’s Christmas Party was held on Saturday 14th of December. The event began with a prayer session for the Children and later lots of fun as the DJ played music for the children to dance. The children also played games and received gift packs from the Foundation.

One of the high points of the December programs was the “Shop 4 Free” held on Tuesday 17th of December 2024. All the Widows, Orphans, and other less privileged members of the community were given access to shop without paying a dime. Available wear, shoes, sandals, fabrics, clothing, kitchen utensils, etc.

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