Local govts in Lagos have been autonomous for years — Commissioner 

Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr Bolaji Robert, on Thursday said local governments in the state have been autonomous long before the Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 that affirmed the financial and administrative autonomy of the 3rd tier of government across the country.

 

The commissioner said this during the ongoing ministerial press briefing to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in the state, which took place at Alausa, Ikeja, declaring that talks about local government autonomy were alien in the state.

 

Robert noted that the council chairmen had unhindered access to their federal allocations, saying that this accounted for why local governments in Lagos were far away from other local governments in other states in terms of roads, healthcare and other infrastructure.

 

“The issue of Local Government autonomy is alien to the government of Lagos State. This is because the local governments are getting their money.

 

“The issue of autonomy is strange as far as we are concerned. We do not owe any local government. This is the reason why our local governments are far away from other local governments in other states in terms of roads, healthcare and other infrastructure,” the commissioner stated.

 

 

“You can carry out your investigation, as far as we are concerned, the state has nothing to do with local government funds right from the inception of this administration,” he added.

 

On traditional rulers in the state, Robert stated that 50 Obas had been installed, out of which 17 were first class Obas, since the inception of Sanwo-Olu’s administration, saying that this started with the installation of HRM Omogbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, while some others were still under processing for eventual installation.

 

Speaking further, the commissioner disclosed that a sum of N775.07million had been paid to the families of the deceased State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Local Government Staff as a way of ensuring the bereaved were taken care of.

 

This was just as he further disclosed that his ministry had continued to hold periodic meetings with chairmen across the 57 Councils, intimating and sensitising councils through periodic strategic tours across the LGAs and LCDAs, saying that this was part of its responsibilities in ensuring adherence to administrative guidelines on administrative procedures.

 

“In the year under review, the Ministry processed 85 approvals for Capital Projects for LGs and LCDAs in the state. It is also important to state here that in the year under review, the Ministry has issued the release of N775, 071, 226.16 as Insurance Benefits to 271 beneficiaries of deceased SUBEB and local government staff.

 

“This is part of the welfare efforts of the administration of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in ensuring that the families of deceased members of staff, who died in active service are catered for after the demise of their loved ones.

 

“To strengthen adherence to due process, various circulars, numbering 14 were issued by the Ministry on behalf of the state government to regulate activities of the Councils.

 

“This also includes the issuance of 43 Special License approvals, 12 Church License in the state and 176 marital documents which were supplied to LGs and LCDAs for the conduct of marriages in the state,” the commissioner stated.