LG/LCDA Summit: Obasa Urges Council Leaders to Prioritise Grassroots Welfare, Strengthen Collaboration

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has charged newly elected chairmen of local governments and local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state to place the welfare of their constituents at the heart of governance while fostering cooperation with other elected officials.

Obasa gave the charge on Thursday, August 28, at a leadership summit for grassroots leaders, themed “Capacity Building and Orientation for Effective Local Governance,” held at the Lateef Jakande Hall of the Assembly Complex.

The summit, organised by the House of Assembly, brought together all chairmen, vice-chairmen, council leaders, and majority leaders from Lagos State’s 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs.

In his keynote address, delivered off-the-cuff, Obasa underscored the Assembly’s legislative contributions to local government administration. These include the extension of council officials’ tenure from three to four years, the establishment of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), the creation of the Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments, and the passage of the Local Government Administration Law 2025, which reforms tenure, structures, and transitions at the grassroots.

He noted that the summit was designed to deepen council officials’ understanding of the Assembly’s constitutional roles, lamenting that ignorance of these responsibilities had led to violations of legislative authority in the past.

“The House is ready to work with the local governments,” Obasa declared. “We strongly believe we are members of the same family, and we must work together as one. We are not here to witch-hunt any chairman but to encourage you.”

The Speaker urged council chairmen to engage regularly with artisans, market women, community associations, and other grassroots groups. He warned that neglecting the people erodes public trust and fuels voter apathy during elections.

“If our votes are dwindling, we should blame the local government chairmen,” he said. “Don’t just aim to make money and spend eight years without achieving anything. When you serve the people, you will benefit. There is no amount of money that can sustain you after office if you fail to perform.”

He advised council leaders to channel resources into community-based projects such as parks, maternity centres, and child support facilities, instead of selling off land for purely commercial purposes. “We are here to support you, but what we need is your performance, not your money,” he added.

Obasa further called for harmonious working relationships between chairmen, deputies, and councillors, stressing that they are partners in progress, not adversaries.

“Your councillors are not your subordinates. Accord them the same respect you expect from them. And to the councillors and vice-chairmen, loyalty is key. If there are disagreements, explore every internal avenue for resolution before rushing to the media. My doors are always open,” he said.

The highlight of the summit was the presentation of a compendium containing all laws governing the establishment and administration of LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos. “Study the book and make progress,” the Speaker told the participants.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Hon. Sesan Olowa, Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and leader of Conference 57, thanked the Speaker for his guidance and pledged that council chairmen would work harmoniously with stakeholders to drive grassroots development.

“We will continue to do our best for our people,” Olowa assured.