THE Chairman of the Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Comrade Akinsanya Lasisi Ayinde has reiterated the council’s commitment to engage the people in participatory government in which citizens will have their say in council affairs.
He said this during the stakeholders’ and town hall meeting on the year 2023 budget held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the council secretariat.
He also declared that the administration would promote the growth and development of the council in accordance with the democratic principles of due consultation, full disclosure, transparency, inclusive participation, responsive leadership, rule of law, and due process.
The discussion of the budget tagged ‘Budget for all-inclusiveness, witnessed different stakeholders in the council such as the council treasurer, Head of the Budget Unit, and Head of the Market Women, among others presenting their needs to the chairman who revealed that all has been noted for actions.
Stressing the need for the council to carry out more developmental projects that will positively impact people’s lives, Comrade Akinsanya added that it was as a result of that need that the council had repositioned governance to enable them to deliver dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
While revealing why the meeting was held at this time of the year, the council Chairman in his opening remarks said; “in simpler terms, this meeting, which is an interactive session, is primarily designed to enable our people to be part of whatever will be packaged in the budget. It is meant to bring people into the picture to understand the workings and dynamics of government and governance.
“This administration of government is an open book for all of us to see and make contributions, hence a need for today’s heart-to-heart discussion.
“All our robust deliberations today and the beautiful ideas will be incorporated into our fiscal planning. That is why we shall expect comprehensive debate and ideas that are community-based and people-friendly.
“It’s the budget we are talking about here so we have to get everybody involved. It is the taxpayers’ money that we are going to be using so we have to know what everyone needs. They also need to give their own quota back to the government. They need to tell us what they need so that we can do a good job. And also see how we can collaborate as a team.”
Furthermore, Akinsanya opined that his administration is bent on giving back to the people what their needs are, saying, “We will not give roads to communities that need boreholes nor will we give boreholes to those that need roads. So we came up with this idea to hear what the people want from us so that we can provide them as soon as we are able to.”
The stakeholders present at the meeting were HRM Oba Onigando of Igando, the Onikotun of Ikotun, the Alakesan of Akesan, the CDC chairman, the Council manager, Council treasurer Head Budget/ Statistics unit, other Heads of Departments, traditional chiefs, religious leaders, market leaders, youth, women, and the general public.
