TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF KOSOFE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HON. BARR. MOYOSORE OGUNLEWE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING TOWARDS PREPARATIONS FOR YEAR 2023 BUDGET OF INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT ON MONDAY, 31ST OCTOBER, 2022.

TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF KOSOFE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HON. BARR. MOYOSORE OGUNLEWE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDERS'  MEETING TOWARDS PREPARATIONS FOR YEAR 2023 BUDGET OF INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT ON MONDAY, 31ST OCTOBER, 2022.

Protocols: 

Let me begin this address by giving glory, honour and adoration to God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth for making today a reality and for bringing us all here safely

 It is my pleasure to stand before the good people of Kosofe Local Government, the land of prosperity,  to address you once again as our tradition,  to always invite you on the need for your contributions in preparation for the budget of 'Infrastructural development' estimates for the upcoming year 2023.

When our administration came on board on  27 July 2021, we promised to run an all-inclusive and transparent government, so that our people will be fully involved in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the Council by their elected representatives.  

Hence, we have to invite you all, as stakeholders, for your inputs toward preparations for the year 2023 budget estimates; tagged: Budget of Infrastructure development.

With your utmost support and cooperation, I have the pleasure to humbly re-emphasize some of our modest achievements so far.                                           

Our government being people-oriented has embarked on programmes and activities that have a great impact on the masses.

 

This present administration has embarked on an aggressive infrastructural development, which has cut across the nooks and crannies of the Local Government.                              

These include the construction of the following roads and drainages: Abioye Street, Mende(Road & Drainage); Awanatu Street, Oworoshoki(Road & Drainage); Araromi Street, Ogudu(Road & Drainage) Adebayo Mokoulu Street, Anthony(Road & Drainage);  Odubela Street, Ojota(Road & Drainage) Ogundairo Street, Oworoshoki( Road & Drainage); Ajoke Street, Ogudu(Road);  Idowu Dada Street, Ogudu(Road & Drainage); Julius Kadri Street, Ifako(Road & Drainage); Aran-Orin Street, Ifako(Road & Drainage) construction of Customary Court and Administrative offices, Renovation of Executive Chairman's office and other offices within the local government headquarters completed i.e. SLG, Supervisors etc. Purchase of utility vehicles for the legislative arm of government, market women, Aluta Jet bus for National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) to all their services, purchase of four revenue buses for area offices within the local government, newly acquired dispatch motorcycles for service delivery, painting of all block of offices at the headquarters, provision of 22 workstations, 88 tables, New & Construction of soak away biodigester, purchase of 4 Nos. of Highlander 1st lots, perimeter fencing at the rear back of the secretariat, construction of New roundabout fountain at the secretariat, construction of scaffolding at the rear back of the secretariat and lots more.     

                    

Our administration has also facilitated the construction of some roads by the Lagos State government, an effort which has reduced flooding and also improved the economy of the local government. 

In the area of health, we have been able to construct the Primary Health Care centre (PHC) at Oworoshoki with the provision of basic medical equipment and qualified personnel, for the benefit of the masses. Some other Primary Health Care centres within the LGA have also been renovated, to bring health care delivery to the doorsteps of our people.  

Our government, being conscious of the common saying that 'health is wealth' has been proactive in the provision and sponsoring of national immunization. Purchase of Ambulance for Primary Health centres, fuelling of generators for all PHCs with 5WHRS diesel 24 hours, Sensitization Administration of Covid-19, Deworming Exercise of all public primary school pupils and construction of PHC care centre at Ohamu in Oworo.   

                                                

Also, we embarked on sensitization of public and private health facilities on rehearsal towards  polio-free certification in our LGA 

To make our Primary Health Care centres accessible to our people, this administration has been observing twenty-four hours services at Ogudu Primary Health Centre.                      

In the area of maintenance and sustenance of a cleaner environment, we have embarked on constant clearance of all black spots in the LGA thereby paving the way for a healthy environment.      

We never stopped at that, we ensure proper advocacy and enlightenment of the public on environmental health issues with our motorized public address system. 

Our administration has always supported the vision of the Lagos state government policies on a greener environment agenda as we love it dearly. We have also planted several tree seedlings and nurtured them into full-grown trees. Our council is now looking greener and aesthetics in nature.

In Education, our government has also provided 150 free GCE forms (2021); 300 free GCE forms (2022);  and 1000 JAMB free forms for indigent students across the seven wards in the LGA. The report we have received so far indicated that most of the youths have been admitted into various higher institutions in and outside Nigeria.

 In addition to the above, this administration has organised an Anti-Cultism campaign to educate our youths on the negative consequences of being involved in cultism, and you will all agree with me that the programme has yielded a positive impact on all our youths.

The Community Development Association is a pivotal aspect of government, therefore, I am using this medium to specially appreciate all members for the support being extended to our administration. I want to assure you of our improved service delivery and contributions to all community programmes and projects as we have been doing. 

The cooperation of staff and management in the success of our administration cannot be overemphasized, they are the pillars and drivers of our achievements.

We have embarked on regular training of staff, sponsorship of conferences for staff and political office holders within and outside the country, regular presentation of junior staff for promotion (JSMC), regular sensitisation of prospective retirees and regular provision of welfare packages. 

 Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen, in the light of the foregoing, I wish to appeal to you as community Leaders and equal stakeholders to come up with pragmatic and realistic suggestions that will assist the Local Government in the preparation of a people’s oriented budget that will ultimately take care of our utmost needs.

Our suggestions are expected to revolve around health care delivery, environment, education, agriculture, water supply, local road rehabilitation, market development etc. Like it has been displayed in my first year in office. 

We should, however, bear in mind that some projects are meant to be undertaken by the Federal government, some others fall within the State Government’s Jurisdiction while others are the responsibility of the Local Government. Each classification is based essentially on the availability of funds, which is accruable to each tier of government.

Let us, therefore, bear in mind and confine ourselves to these projects and programmes that are expected to be undertaken by the Local Government.

Equally, in our demands, we must bear in mind the financial limitation of the Local Government.

I may need to stress here that any budget proposal is not a reflection of the actual cash in hand, but a mere specialization of the expected income and proposed expenditure.

Ladies and gentlemen, to put it more succinctly the role of this gathering include but not limited to the following:-

1. Identification of development projects within the Local Government Area.

2. Suggestion for revenue generation that can sustain the attainment of a realistic budget.

3. Identification of problem areas in the Local Government and the most effective way to restore peace.

4. Effective monitoring of government projects in various communities.

Distinguish guests, I wish to use this medium to appeal to you all to come to the aid of the Local Government by fulfilling your financial obligations to the Local Government by paying your bills.  It is through this that our dream of creating a Local Government which all of us will be proud of can be realised.

I wish to further appeal to corporate organisations operating within the Local Government to come to the aid of the Local Government by identifying any project that can be embarked upon for the benefit of our people.

You will agree with me that the government alone cannot do everything, we, therefore, solicit your co-operation so that we can improve the lots of our people.  Any efforts in this direction will be appreciated and lauded.

At this juncture, ladies and gentlemen let me now invite you as community leaders, religious leaders, union leaders, traditional leaders, market men and women leaders, professional bodies, political leaders, pressmen and corporate organisations, artisans, landlords and other stakeholders to come forward with suggestions and inputs that will help to uplift the standard of living of our people.  

 Finally, I wish to express my profound gratitude for your presence here today, as I wish everyone a fruitful discussion, merry Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance.                        

Thank you for your attention.  God bless you all.

LONG LIVE KOSOFE

IGBEGA IJOBA IBILE KOSOFE, AJUMOSE GBOGBO WA NI OO

*Hon. Barrister Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe*

Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Government.

31 October, 2022.