Abuja: The secretaries to the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State have been urged to drive the state’s THEMES+ agenda at the grassroots. Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), made this call during an inaugural meeting with the newly appointed Secretaries to the Local Governments (SLGs).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Salu-Hundeyin emphasized the importance of implementing the THEMES+ agenda to ensure its benefits reach residents at the grassroots level. She highlighted that the secretaries, being the closest government representatives to the people, have a strategic role in executing Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for a greater Lagos.
Salu-Hundeyin conveyed the governor’s message, urging them to be proactive and attentive to issues affecting residents. She emphasized the need for prompt communication with council chairmen and escalation of significant matters to the state government for necessary actions.
She instructed the secretaries to use the THEMES+ development agenda as a framework for implementing government policies within their councils. She noted that priorities might vary across councils-ranging from health, transportation, security, flood control, environmental sanitation, or waste management-based on local needs.
Salu-Hundeyin also stressed the importance of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, encouraging the secretaries to raise awareness about it to enhance affordable healthcare access for residents. She emphasized the necessity of regular community clean-up exercises and public enlightenment to combat indiscriminate waste disposal.
Council officials were urged to mobilize residents to keep drains clear of refuse to mitigate flooding and improve public health. The SSG called for the newly appointed SLGs to uphold responsibility, transparency, and good governance principles in their roles.
She underscored the secretaries’ roles as custodians of due process and coordinators of administration, urging them to perform their duties with professionalism, diligence, and innovation. The office of the SSG, she assured, would continue to support them in the mission to build a greater Lagos aligned with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ development agenda.
Mr Kunle Olambiwonnu, Chairman of the Forum of Secretaries to the 57 Local Governments and LCDAs, expressed the secretaries’ commitment to effectively implementing government policies at the grassroots. He found the engagement with the SSG enlightening and resourceful, providing vital information to enhance governance across councils.
Olambiwonnu highlighted the necessity for secretaries to impact their councils positively, ensuring government policies yield tangible benefits for residents. Acknowledging the challenges faced in local government administration, he expressed confidence in addressing these issues.
He commended the support from council chairmen, which he said equipped the secretaries with the necessary tools to fulfill their responsibilities and implement the meeting’s resolutions. Regarding security, he noted that all local government secretaries also serve as secretaries of their respective peace and security committees, engaging regularly with security stakeholders to address community challenges.