“Lagos can and must lead by example.” – General Bashexy
Seven months after the inauguration of Local Government and LCDA chairmen across Lagos State, supervisory councillors and Secretaries to the Local Government (SLG) have yet to be appointed.
This delay is not a minor administrative matter, it is a structural deficiency that weakens institutional governance, undermines merit, and sends the wrong signal about our commitment to grassroots development.
Local governments are the closest tier of government to the people. They are responsible for primary healthcare, sanitation, local infrastructure, markets, and community development.
These responsibilities demand a complete administrative framework not a concentration of authority in a single office.
Supervisory councillors provide sector based oversight across critical departments such as works, health, education, agriculture, and environment. They ensure specialization, improve monitoring of projects, and strengthen internal accountability.
Their presence promotes efficiency and shared responsibility in governance.
Equally vital is the appointment of the Secretary to the Local Government (SLG). The SLG serves as the administrative engine of the council, coordinating departments, maintaining institutional records, ensuring compliance with procedures, and safeguarding continuity in governance.
Without an SLG, administrative processes become fragmented, coordination weakens, and institutional memory suffers.
Timely appointments of supervisory councillors and SLGs bring measurable benefits:
*Operational efficiency and professional specialization
*Stronger internal checks and accountability
*Improved policy execution and project monitoring
*Institutional stability and continuity
*Prevention of excessive concentration of power
*Greater transparency and public trust
*Beyond administrative efficiency, there are clear political and democratic implications.
Grassroots governance directly influences public perception of government performance and also gets more people involved.
Plus when local councils function effectively with visible projects, responsive services, and accessible leadership citizens develop stronger confidence in the political system. This confidence translates into improved civic engagement and higher voter turnout during elections.
Conversely, when governance appears incomplete or delayed, political apathy grows. Citizens are less motivated to participate in electoral processes when they do not see tangible results at the local level.
Timely appointments strengthen party structures, deepen grassroots mobilization, and enhance political coordination. They create platforms for engagement, community outreach, and policy communication. In a politically strategic state like Lagos, effective local governance is not only administrative, it is foundational to sustaining political legitimacy and electoral participation.
With a four-year tenure already underway, losing nearly a year without a fully constituted executive structure represents a significant institutional setback. Governance operates within fixed timelines. Delays reduce impact, compress implementation windows, and weaken long-term planning.
Under the leadership of H. E Babajide Sanwo-Olu with the THEME agenda, Lagos Rising and drive for A Greater Lagos”. Lagos is expected to maintain high governance standards and remain a model for administrative excellence in Nigeria.
Strengthening local government structures should reflect that commitment.
This is not about personalities or partisan interests. It is about merit, institutional integrity, and democratic vitality. Strong institutions produce strong governance. Strong governance builds public trust. And public trust sustains political participation.
The time to complete these appointments is now.* Grassroots governance must be structured, merit driven, and treated with the urgency it deserves.
“Lagos can and must lead by example.” – General Bashexy
General Bashexy writes from Ikorodu.
