Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has enjoined former chairmen of local governments in the country to deploy their wealth of experience and knowledge to chart the way forward for the development of governance at the grassroots, the state, and the nation in general.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call during a courtesy visit to him at the Lagos House Marina on Friday by the representatives of the Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria led by its President, Hon. Albert Ashipa, saying that as critical stakeholders, comprising 5,000 members from the 774 councils in the country, they were relevant to building democracy in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots level.
The governor expressed support for local government autonomy, saying his administration would continue to partner with the Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria to achieve its aim of fostering development as well as deepening democracy and knowledge.
He urged them to continue to use their wealth of experience and skills in supporting serving chairmen in Nigeria.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the theme of the upcoming National Retreat of the Association, tagged: “Local Government Autonomy, Bringing Governance to the People: A Case Study of Lagos,” was a testament to the Lagos State Government’s proactiveness in supporting development at the grassroots.
President of the Association, Hon. Ashipa, earlier in his remark, praised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration for setting the pace in Nigeria by making Lagos State a good example of how local government autonomy should work.
Ashipa further acknowledged the giant strides of Sanwo-Olu’s administration, especially in delivering critical infrastructure projects across the nooks and crannies of the state, and equally commended him for ensuring the promotion of the local government autonomy and embarking on developmental projects, making Lagos the best.
He congratulated Governor Sanwo-Olu for leading the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to victory in the last Saturday governorship election in Ondo State as the Chairman of the party’s National Campaign Council and Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum.
Ashipa said the governor had performed very well by delivering the dividends of democracy and contributing positively to development at the grassroots level, noting that his performance made the Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria award him the Best Governor in Nigeria.
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