Governor Gboyega Oyetola-led administration is proposing a Developmental Agenda for Local Government Council Areas with a view to guaranteeing even development across all councils.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke stated this on Friday at an Interactive Retreat for Chairmen of Local Government, Local Council Development Areas and Area Councils at MicCom Golf Hotels and Resort, Ada, State of Osun.
At the retreat, themed, “Challenges of Governance at the Grassroots Level”, he said that the proposed councils’ development agenda would be in line with the Development Agenda of the state.
He stressed that the agenda was necessary to allow the councils develop at nearly the same level and ensure that no council is sidelined.
Adeleke also stressed that part of the measures to guarantee development was the staff redistribution policy of the government to ensure that all revenues available to some local governments are not drained by payment of salary than the others due to large workforce.
The commissioner added, “the first challenge for the governance at the local government is the issue of the MFIU Policy on fiscal autonomy to councils, it has been discovered that it is having negative developmental effect on some councils than the others.
“That is why Governor Oyetola’s administration has developed a policy for the staff redistribution. Though some councils would not like this but it’s necessary because the salary payment is draining the entire revenue of some councils due to the large population of their workforce.
“This staff redistribution is necessary to guarantee even development in all the councils and we want to appeal to those who would not like this policy to let it work in the interest of the state.
“The reality is that Governor Oyetola is committed to the development of the state and we cannot afford to derail. If you fail at the local governments, there is 80 per cent probability that the government at the state level might fail, because every development is local.
“Running of local government is a big deal and you must do things that will make people to respect you. As a leader, do not take people to where they want to be, but where they ought to be”, Adeleke stressed.
The Director-General, Ileri Oluwa Campaign Organisation, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa urged the council chairmen to carry the parliamentarians in their council along in the execution of projects in their domains.
He added that the loyalty for the government and ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) should be total to ensure that the desire development is achieved.
“Respect your colleagues who are councillors, and that is when you can also command respect as council chairmen. See them as partners in progress and don’t see yourself as a boss”, Famurewa noted.
Also, the Secretary-General of the Campaign Organisation, Mr Richard Tinubu charged the participants to further show commitment to the development agenda of Governor Oyetola’s administration through effective management of resources and time.
Describing time management as a critical factor in management, he said this would allow the chairmen to plan their schedules well and be productive in their various councils.
