Mr Lanre Odubote, an All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain in Epe Division, has urged the Local Government Chairmen to look beyond food palliative distribution and prioritise infrastructure development.
Odubote gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe on Monday.
He said that food palliative distribution was a good idea in this era of economic hardship, but more was needed from the council chairmen.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. The Federal Government has granted financial autonomy for the LG chairmen.
“Therefore, more infrastructural developmental projects are expected from them to boost the socio-economic status of their communities, ” he said.
Odubote eemphasised the critical need for accountability within the LGs.
He urged citizens to actively monitor and hold their council leadership accountable for the management and utilisation of public resources.
“When council chairmen are held responsible and accountable for their actions, it ensures that they remain committed to serving the community effectively, ” he said.
He called on council chairmen to encourage greater community involvement in decision-making processes.
He advocated for the prioritisation of infrastructural development in annual budgets.
Odubote highlighted the importance of transparency, suggesting that regular town hall meetings serve as a vital tool for citizens to track how local governments allocate and spend public funds.
He stressed the importance of enhancing the capacity of local government officials through continuous training and development programmes.
“This will equip them with the necessary skills to manage resources efficiently and drive sustainable development at the grassroots level, ” he said.
He also encouraged collaboration between local governments and civil society organisations to ensure that developmental projects align with the actual needs of the communities they serve.
