Community development in the heart of Lagos govt.

chika ebuzor

August 18, 2015 7:45 AM

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to make community governance the spring board for economic and social development of the state.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

Ambode said this at a parley with members of the various Community Development Associations (CDAs),Community Development Councils (CDC) and other stakeholders at the Government House, Alausa, Ikeja.

He said that the establishment of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs placed community development in the heart of government.

Ambode said ''I am aware that there are 57 Community Development Councils synonymous with each Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the State. There is an Advisory Council which is the highest body giving advice to the government on community development."

Adding that ''The over 3, 100 CDAs have provided a veritable platform to mobilise your members to assist in the quest for infrastructure provision and social renewal state-wide. Sustainability of the various interventions should now be a mojor concern of the CDAs in their neighborhood as the government alone cannot provide all community needs as of date."

"The people have to be mobilised to 'do- it- themselves' to complement government's efforts. I urge you to embrace this 'self-help' or community development approach as a veritable tool for sustainable development advanced by this administration, '' he said.

Ambode said that the state government had embarked on Local Government reforms as part of ensuring inclusive governance as well as included CDAs in the budgetary cycle of the state.

He also promised to embark on local government tour to appreciate CDAs and get their needs directly, as part of participatory governance.

The governor urged the associations to be alive to their responsibilities of civil enlightenment, monitoring and upkeep of provided facilities, good environmental sanitation, and payment of dues to government.

chika ebuzor