Kunle Adelabu
The Chairman of the Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina on Wednesday, January 06, 2021, interacted with major stakeholders in the council in preparation for the 2021 budget to determine residents’ areas of needs.
At the Stakeholders Consultative Forum for the 2021 Budget Preparation held at the Ikorodu LG Secretariat hall were representatives of Markets, Community Development Associations, Artisans, Youths, Local Government Workers and Political Party among others.
According to the Council Chairman, the meeting was organised to collect inputs from residents for the 2021 budget, adding that similar thing was done last year where suggestions and demands from people were fashioned into the 2020 budget.
“Stakeholders meeting was held at the beginning of last year in order for us to take inputs from people with several requests submitted for consideration into the 2020 budget.
“All the inputs were deliberated upon and some of them were fashioned into last year’s budget and the administration delivered on some of them despite our financial limitation coupled with the pandemic challenge”.
He listed illumination of Itunla Street with 85watts energy bulbs, reconstruction of Itunmaja big culvert, reconstruction of Obun – Oke culvert, renovation of Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat to make it more conducive and surfacing of Anibaba/Sholafun Street with interlocking stones as part of the projects executed in the last year’s budget.
Also, palliative measures on Isikalu and Etunrenren Streets and grading of Borokini Dada and Agbele roads in Ward A and F respectively, were also mentioned as parts of the inputs by stakeholders into the last year’s budget that were were also delivered.
Hon Adeshina also stated that his administration also embarked on the National Immunization Pus Day, procurement of Infection Prevention and Control Materials, COVID – 19 support activities and Maternal Newborn Adolescent and Child Health Week.
“In addition to the programmes listed above, there was a huge commitment to provide palliatives to the public in order to subsidise the economic effects of COVID – 19 among the people of Ikorodu”, he added.
He also stated that sanitation of some parts of the council were also given priority while adding that his administration also completed a standard six unit public toilet in Salvation Army Primary School.
“It will interest you to know that the local government has completed a standard (six – units) public toilet for the comfort of pupils of Salvation Army Primary School, Ikorodu.It will be commissioned and delivered this year”.
He said that work has commenced on Ward projects nominated by the seven Councilors in their various Wards.
“Ward by Ward projects as selected by the Honourable Councilors have been approved and kick – started by the local government.
“As mentioned earlier, we were able to meet some and not all of the requests submitted for the obvious reason of financial constraints.
Stakeholders Requests For 2021 Budget
The stakeholders’ meeting afforded many that attended the event the opportunity to call the Chairman’s attention to issues affecting their respective areas and entire Ikorodu and charged him to ensure that provisions are made in this year’s budget towards addressing those issues.
Mr Kehinde Ayanbadejo called for the development of data and deployment of technology in revenue collections.
He suggested that the chairman should look critically in this direction and make necessary provision in the budget for the achievement of task so as to place Ikorodu revenue generation on good footing.
“The Chairman should also endeavour to take back the council’s revenue. Nobody should be allowed to lay claim to what belongs to Ikorodu people”, he further charged the Council Chairman.
Former Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Waheed Owokodu, in his own submission, called on the chairman to ensure that employment opportunities are created in the council and also find ways to absorb1000 residents into the local government as directed by the federal government.
Owokodu also enjoined the council to re – establish relationships with Ikorodu sons and daughters in the diasporas who are ready to assist.
Alhaja Sidikat Allinson, the Iya – Oloja General of Ikorodu Division, in her own contribution, called for decongestion of Sabo market and dislodgement of street traders that are making human and vehicular traffic difficult at Sabo market.
The Seriki of Hausa community in Ikorodu and other residents, while commending the chairman for the feat that his administration has been able to achieve over the years, also called for improved security, especially around Sabo market where unsuspecting residents are reportedly been dispossessed of their belongings in the evening and early morning.
Kunle Adelabu, a reporter, called for provisions for market and parks development in the 2020 budget as a way of ridding the Ikorodu garage roundabout down to Benson, Ayangbure road, Ladega and Sabo of street trading and indiscriminate parking by tricycles and motorcycles that are causing traffic along these axis.
He suggested that Ajina and Obun – Ale markets should be redeveloped to accommodate traders that are on streets causing traffic.
He also charged the council to find a place to accommodate commercial vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles to bring sanity back to the garage roundabout.
The Coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ikorodu Local Government chapter, Comrade Fatai Idris and the Secretary of the group, Comrade Tosin Mabunmi, while speaking on behalf of Ikorodu youths, enjoined the council chairman to create empowerment and employment opportunities for youths in order to make them self – sustaining.
They also called for youth inclusiveness in the council’s programmes.
An APC Chieftain, Alhaji Ola4, called on the chairman to ensure that construction of the Ademoye/Alashe roads to link the recently constructed Adaraloye and Igbogbo roads, is included in the proposed budget.
Alhaji Lamidi Folorunsho, another political chieftain, in his own submission, called for improved security in Ikorodu to tackle cultism and other social vices facing the community.
The Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), IkoroduLG, Alhaji Luqman Shonibare also speaking on behalf of the 267 community associations in the council commended the Chairman for his support for CDAs and the donation of an official bus for them.
Shonibare pledged to submit the list of demands/requests by CDAs to the Chairman and Council Manager enjoining them to act on them.
He also reiterated the request of the CDC for office space within the council secretariat which he said that they have been requesting for in the last six years.
Other stakeholders that contributed also spoke in the same vein.
Adeshina On Council Plans For 2021 Budget
The Council Chairman, while responding to requests by Stakeholders at this year’s pre – budget meeting, let out some of his administration’s plans for 2021.
On market development, Hon Adeshina, while acknowledging the need to stop street trading which is causing traffic at garage roundabout and Sabo, added that it has been very difficult to achieve the redevelopment of Ajina and Obun – Ale markets due to their traditional nature.
He, however, announced that the council has been asked by the Ijomu elders to represent its proposal for the redevelopment of Obun – Ale market into a modern one.
He also announced that a place has been secured close to Sabo for a new market development.
“We have identified a place close to Sabo that we will soon be used as a new market. We are finalizing the takeover as well as some modalities”, Hon. Adeshina said.
On improvement of welfare of the council staff, Adeshina announced that part of the plans is to procure a staff bus this year.
“We are going to procure a staff bus this year to convey those living outside Ikorodu. They are expected to pay a token.
“We are going to give the burial ground a facelift so that those that are dead can rest peacefully. The plastering of the fence will commence soon and we are going to rehabilitate the council office within the cemetery.
On roads, Hon. Adeshina said:
“We are going to repair Kalejaiye Street in Ward C and Mowo – Nla in Agura.
“We are also going to asphalt Local Government Secretariat road and others”.
On his agenda for youths in 2021, the Council Chairman said:
“We are not forgetting our youths. We will soon be given out bursary forms and they can pick it from the HoD Education office. We are also going to constitute the screening committee and we are going to involve them in the screening”.
The Chairman also assured the youths that his administration will make monthly stipends available for them as part of his agenda to support them.
Adeshina, who stated that his administration is embarking on total rehabilitation of the council secretariat built over 40 years ago to boost the staff confidence and protect the heritage, added that painting of the edifice will commence soon.
He appealed to residents to pay their rates directly into the council account to help the council in achieving projects and programmes that will be budgeted for in this year’s budget.
He warned against paying rates to any council official.
The stakeholders meeting also witnessed Christian and Muslim prayer sessions for the resumption of work in the council for 2021.
