As part of the efforts to ensure councillors have the requisite skills to perform their legislative functions, the Lagos State Government has trained 376 council lawmakers across the 57 Local Government Areas of the state, on effective lawmaking for the councils.
It said that the training was part of the strategic effort of the government through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development to align councillors with the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda.
The state government added that the training will cascade these policies to the grassroots, thereby engendering social and infrastructural development at the grassroots.
Speaking at the two-day Capacity Building Workshop yesterday, the Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Bolaji Robert, applauded the Governor for funding the workshop to equip Councillors on better lawmaking and other legislative functions.
Bolaji, while, addressing the gathering, urged participants at the event to see the workshop as a platform to interface with other Councillors across the State to birth a synergy between the Chairmen and Councillors that would make the dream of a Greater Lagos possible and bring us closer to the reality of the Lagos of our dreams.
He added that this workshop would be the berthing of conversations relating to the efficient management of resources, creation of a better outlook and modality for governance, which would promote good governance at the grassroots and equally give clarity to governance through the appraisal of constitutional and political principles on which governance and law making at the grassroots is premised.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development; Kikelomo Bolarinwa, while speaking with the press, reiterated the commitment of the State Government to continually build capacity for Councillors who have been entrusted with the responsibility of making laws at the Local Government Level, as it is the closest to the grassroots, hence the need to build strong foundation through strategic workshops such as this.
Earlier, while delivering her welcome address, Mrs Kikelomo Barinwa disclosed that the essence of the workshop is to help Councillors make better legislation and to understand the principles behind making legislations that would engender productive and citizen-friendly collaborations with their principals at the various Local Government Level.
While rounding off her speech, Bolarinwa urged every participant to seize the opportunity to learn and relearn new ways of legislating and collaborating with their chairmen in a way that citizens in their Councils would benefit from the dividends that democracy offers.
Responding on behalf of the councillors, Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Councillors Forum; Alimi Nurudeen, commended the State Government for organising the workshop to keep Councillors abreast with standard practices for Local Government Legislation.
He added that the workshop would equip Councillors on improved methods to represent the good people of Lagos State as it concerns legislation and bringing the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
Nurudeen also assured that Councillors would take the lessons from the workshop to heart and use it to influence legislation that would improve the lives of citizens at the grassroots.
