The Nation Newspaper

Category: Grassroots

  • My victory at APC chairmanship primary reward for consistency, says Ikosi-Isheri LCDA boss

    My victory at APC chairmanship primary reward for consistency, says Ikosi-Isheri LCDA boss

    •  By Chidinma Nnamdi

    Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) was set alight with renewed confidence and celebration following the victory of Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada, the incumbent Mayoress at the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primaries.

     The triumph, widely regarded as a reward for performance, leadership, and grassroots impact, has been met with an outpouring of praise by community leaders, stakeholders, and party faithful

    According to eyewitnesses, the primaries were characterised by a high level of enthusiasm and participation, with delegates from various wards and communities turning out in large numbers to support Princess Bada. The exercise was peaceful, and the outcome was met with jubilation from supporters of the Mayoress.

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    Addressing a jubilant gathering, Princess Bada described the day as one of “deep gratitude and joyful celebration,” attributing her success to the trust and support of party leaders, delegates, and her supporters. She thanked them for their unwavering commitment and trust in her leadership..

    “This victory did not happen by chance,” she said. “It is the reward of consistent dedication, collective focus, and the enduring truth that service speaks louder than slogans.”

    The Mayoress also acknowledged the efforts of her team, party leaders, and stakeholders who worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth and successful primary process. She emphasised her commitment to building bridges and fostering unity within the party and the community.

    Princess Bada, who served part of a previous tenure following the death of her predecessor, and was duly elected in 2021, said her re-election bid was legally sound and anchored in performance.

  • Council distributes materials, vehicles to schools

    Council distributes materials, vehicles to schools

    The Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Adetoyese Olusi, has distributed school materials to all primary and secondary schools within the council.

    He said the initiative reflected his administration’s commitment to raising the standard of public education by providing students with essential learning tools.

    “We are determined to ensure that every child has access to quality education through the provision of complete school kits and improved learning environments,” he said.

    According to him, the school packages include uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, writing materials, and school bags tailored to meet the needs of students across government-owned schools in the LGA.

    He said the project was designed to eliminate basic learning challenges faced by pupils and reduce the financial burden on parents.

    In addition to the school items, the chairman also handed over five new official vehicles to key management staff of the local government.

    The council boss said the vehicles would enhance supervision, project monitoring, and overall administrative efficiency.

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    He added that the project would be sustained and expanded in the coming months to accommodate additional support for teaching staff and infrastructure.

    APC Deputy Chairman of Lagos State, Moshood Mayegun, commended the initiative.

    He encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity.

     “The council chairman has done his part by easing the burden on your parents. Now, it is left for you to face your studies. Read your books and always remember this day when you become great in the future. The prayers in the corners of your homes, now and forever, will remain with you. May your parents reap the fruits of their labour,” he said.

    He added that the council assured that the initiative would be sustained and expanded in the coming months to include more support for teaching staff and educational infrastructure.

  • Ikoyi-Obalende increases doctors’ salaries to N800,000

    Ikoyi-Obalende increases doctors’ salaries to N800,000

    In a bold move reaffirming his administration’s commitment to quality healthcare, the Chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal, has approved a second upward review of doctors’ salaries—raising them to N800,000 monthly, effective June 2025.

    This latest increment represents a 100 percent increase from the existing N400,000, and a 300 percent total increase since February 2024, when the doctors’ salaries were first reviewed from N200,000 to N400,000.

    According to a statement released by the council, the decision reflects both an appreciation of the indispensable role healthcare workers play and a strategic step towards retaining medical talent in the local system amid growing emigration pressures.

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    “Our administration is not only reconstructing the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Primary Healthcare Centre—we’re rebuilding the very foundation of healthcare delivery in Ikoyi-Obalende. By increasing our doctors’ salaries again, we are reinforcing our belief that a healthy society is a wealthy society,” he said.

    The salary review coincides with the near-completion of the comprehensive reconstruction of the PHC, now entering its upper-level construction phase.

    Once complete, the new PHC is expected to deliver improved access to high-quality healthcare for thousands of residents across the LCDA.

    Atanda-Lawal further emphasized that the pay rise is designed to secure long-term commitment from healthcare workers and reduce attrition due to the Japa syndrome.

    He urged residents to continue supporting the government’s efforts and expressed confidence in the incoming administration to sustain and expand the people-centred initiatives pioneered under his leadership.

  • Bariga budget chief launches book on planning, practice

    Bariga budget chief launches book on planning, practice

    The Deputy Director of Planning at the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission and Head of the Department of Budget, Planning and Statistics, Bariga Local Council, Adeniyi Adeleke, has unveiled a book titled: The Guide Book On Planning, Research and Budget Practice in the Local Government.

    Speaking at the book launch, Adeleke stated that the book was inspired by the growing need for a reference guide and his wealth of experience in local government administration.

    He said: “As I have served within the system for many years, I became increasingly aware of the gaps in accessable knowledge, lack of standard reference materials and the need for capacity building among officers at all levels.

    “The book was born out of over two decades of active engagement and observation in the field of local government administration, particularly in the areas of planning, budgeting and statistical operations.”

    Adeleke noted that the book drew from over two decades of active engagement in the local government system, particularly in the areas of planning, budgeting, and statistics.

    “The vision is to provide a practical, context-specific and experience-baked guide that can support local government practitioners across Nigeria and beyond in delivering better planning, budgeting, and development outcomes,” he explained.

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    Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Kamal Bayewu, described the author as one of the brightest minds on the team, hailing his efforts towards the digitisation of of municipal operations.

    “I must confess to you that Adeniyi is one of our brightest minds on the team. He has been trying to impact others, and I have met him on different occasions where local governments invite him to give lectures on budget and planning and he has been doing so well, especially in the aspect of digitising local government’s nominal role,” he said.

    In her review, Deputy Director at the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Clara Bamgbola, described the book as a timely resource for career development and municipal economic planning.

    “This book is coming at the right time in the right direction. I want to believe that it will serve as a motivation for all officers to move from where they are now and begin to run the race and continue the good work wherever we stop. I will christen it an “All Hands on Deck Guidebook,” she said.

  • Monarch raises alarm over plot to tarnish image

    Monarch raises alarm over plot to tarnish image

    The Oba-designate of Sango-Ota, Baale Abdulwasiu Olawale Akilo, has raised a security alert, warning of a calculated plot by unnamed individuals to frame him using planted evidence and media propaganda.

    In a statement issued on behalf of the Baale, Prince Elder Lawal Lamidi Alabi, Chief of Staff of the Iganmode Afeleja Foundation and President of the Forum of Awori Intelligentsia, claimed that “hoodlums and disgruntled elements” are working to implant live ammunition and other incriminating materials within the palace grounds in a bid to derail the Baale’s elevation to Obaship.

    “This is not just an attack on a man,” Prince Alabi told our correspondent. “It is an attack on the will of the Awori people, on tradition, and on peace. They want to dent his image, ruin his credibility, and block his path to kingship.”

    According to intelligence reportedly gathered by the palace, the alleged conspirators are planning what they describe as a “final blow”—a smear campaign designed to implicate Baale Akilo and his supporters in criminal activities.

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    Baale Akilo, who has reportedly survived similar attacks in the past, is calling on the people of Aworiland to stay alert and vigilant. He also urged the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to take action in this matter.

    He said: “Olodumare has protected us before,” Baale Akilo was quoted as saying through his representative. “We believe He will protect us again. But we also need our people to speak out, stay aware, and share this information with security agencies. This is our collective responsibility.”

    Supporters of the Baale gathered at the palace, expressing their loyalty and readiness to defend what they described as a legitimate and righteous traditional process.

    “This is beyond politics,” said community leader Mrs. Modinat Olatunji. “Baale Akilo has always stood for peace and progress. We will not let bad eggs disrupt our land.”

  • Ex-PM News reporter is monarch’s publicist

    Ex-PM News reporter is monarch’s publicist

    To strengthen the reportage and access to information on his community, the Olu of Orile Ilawo indigenous community, Alaiyeluwa Oba Alexander Olusegun MacGregor, has appointed a journalist, Lanre Olaleye as head of the Media and Publicity Directorate of the palace.

    In a statement by George Olabode Adebini, Palace Secretary to the Olu of Ilawo, Olaleye’s appointment bodes well with the monarch’s agenda to position Ilawo among the top echelon of indigenous communities in Nigeria.

    “Kabiyesi is strongly committed to the all round development of Ilawo in terms of infrastructural and human capital development through the ‘Ilawo of Our Dream Agenda.’

    “The success of this agenda will only be achieved through a positive public perception of our efforts at giving a positive narratives about Ilawo. And Olaleye will bring his three decades experience from stints in some of Nigerian frontline media establishments to bare on internal and external communications of the palace and Ilawo community as a whole,” Adebini said.

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    He added: “With his wealth of experience and network of contacts in the Nigerian media circle, we are confident of charting a truly new beginning towards the Ilawo of our dream.”

    A graduate of Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba, Lagos, Olaleye holds his first and second degrees in Journalism and Communication Studies from Lagos State University (LASU).

    He was formerly the Sports Editor of PM. News, the defunct prodigious Lagos evening newspaper published by Independent Communications Network Limited (ICNL) publisher of The News/Tempo/P.M. News.

    After 10 years successful stint, he moved over to Daily Independent Newspapers in 2005, where he was appointed Editor of Daily Independent Breaking News and later Crime Editor.

  • Lagos warns building owners over Certificate of Fitness

    Lagos warns building owners over Certificate of Fitness

    •Unveils ambitious energy roadmap

    Lagos State Government has issued a directive mandating property owners to acquire a Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation for their buildings in the state.

    Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Mr. Olajide Babatunde, who gave the directive during a ministerial press briefing, said it was part of intensified efforts to ensure structural safety and prevent building collapses.

    Babatunde stated that the measure was crucial to addressing the recurring issue of building collapses in Lagos and part of the government’s broader commitment to creating a safe and orderly built environment.

    He emphasised that no building would be allowed to be occupied without meeting the required safety and structural standards.

    The special adviser said: ‘’215 certificate of completion and fitness were issued to building owners, developers after stage-by-stage inspections of their building process by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), through the Building Certification Department (BCD).’’

    Highlighting the government’s progress in modernising land administration and urban development, Babatunde pointed to the ongoing implementation of the Enterprise Geographic Information Service (e-GIS), spearheaded by the Lagos Geographic Information Service (LAGIS).

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    Meanwhile, the state’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has unveiled bold future plans aimed at achieving universal energy access, improving electricity reliability, and stimulating local manufacturing of power infrastructure components.

    Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, mentioned that key among the ministry’s initiatives is the full implementation of the Lagos Electricity Market structure under the Lagos State Electricity Law, 2024 which will involve licensing independent electricity distribution companies, supporting embedded generation, and operationalizing the Lagos Independent System Operator (LISO) to stabilize the power ecosystem.

    “We are taking deliberate steps to transition Lagos into a 24-hour economy through reliable and sustainable energy solutions,” Ogunleye stated.

  • Coker-Aguda marks Children’s Day with funfair

    Coker-Aguda marks Children’s Day with funfair

    The Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) yesterday joined the rest of the nation in celebrating Children’s Day with a funfair, bringing together pupils from various schools across the community.

    The event, held at the council’s Multipurpose Hall, was attended by the council Chairman, Razaq Ibrahim Olamilekan (RIO), who led the celebration and personally distributed school bags and educational materials to all participating students.

    Ibrahim underscored the importance of nurturing and investing in children as the nation’s future leaders, saying “Today is all about our children — the leaders of tomorrow. As a government, we are committed to supporting their education and well-being in every way possible.”

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    He advised the children to always listen to their teachers and parents, while offering prayers for their protection and success.

    The celebration featured cultural displays, dance performances, and drama presentations by various schools, creating a memorable experience for the children and guests in attendance.

  • Commission hails Ikorodu West Council chief

    Commission hails Ikorodu West Council chief

    The Chairman of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission (LSLGSC), Kamal Bayewu, has commended the Sulaimon Kazeem-led administration of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area for prioritising infrastructural development and staff welfare, among other achievements in the council.

    Bayewu gave the commendation during the commission’s visit to the LCDA, as part of the efforts to engage, assess, and evaluate the management’s performance in the 57 councils in the state.

    He noted that the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional relations at the grassroots and promoting staff discipline, efficiency, and accountability.

    “I want to commend the chairman for his remarkable and indelible achievements in the local government; the infrastructure, this edifice, and by extension, the Ikorodu West community members,” he said.

    “Our visit is to see to your welfare, and how you have executed the policies of the council’s chairman. We want to assess your performance and evaluate you. This visit will consolidate on what you have been doing for the past five years,” he added.

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    Also speaking, Commissioner II representing Epe Division, Ahmed Seriki, urged council staff to remain dedicated while upholding high standards in executing their duties, stressing that the local government workforce plays a critical role in the state’s overall development.

    “ The government’s responsibility is to provide services to the community, and your responsibilities as a staff member to the government are to ensure that you cooperate with your chairman to achieve remarkable results,” he urged.

    Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ajayi Omobola, said the commission was poised to establish bespoke training sessions for all levels of staff in different departments of the councils, enhance learning, mentorship, and institutional knowledge transfer.

  • Minister kicks-off empowerment training for youths in Lagos, others

    Minister kicks-off empowerment training for youths in Lagos, others

    Youths from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria have commenced Skills to Wealth (S2W) programme, a three-week intensive skills acquisition and empowerment camp organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

    Speaking at the kick-off in Lagos, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, emphasised that the initiative was in accordance with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said it aimed to empower youths in agriculture, automobiles, and renewable energy.

    According to him, the training, conducted in partnership with selected institutions, equips youths, educated or not, with theoretical and practical sessions and a follow-up internship to reinforce learning.

    He said: “It is a high-intensity programme that will last for three weeks. This is the first phase of the programme, and we will scale it up until the end of the year. We will camp the youths here for three weeks, providing accommodation and food for them. They will be training 8 hours from Monday to Saturdays.me

    “The aim is for them to have an all-round experience, they will do theory in the mornings and practicals in the afternoon to ensure that they have the experience and are ready for the market after these three weeks. They will do an internship after the training to practice what they have learnt,” he explained.

    “This programme in the next five years will help the penetration, maintenance and sustainability. That is why we are looking at high-impact areas. Renewable energy will provide rural areas with energy. Agriculture will aid food security. These trainings will produce candidates that can meet up with the high demand for skilled talents.”

    While disclosing that the programme will run until the end of the year, Yilwatda said the initiative’s projected target was to reach 10,000 Nigerian talents across the country.

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    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yakub Kofarmata, urged the beneficiaries to maximise the skills they learnt for self-reliance and long-term growth.

    “I urge you to see this opportunity as the beginning of your journey towards economic independence. Take the teachings, utilise it and I assure you that you will prosper. Let us all commit ourselves towards building a better Nigeria where every citizen, regardless of background, has a fair shot at prosperity,” he admonished.

    Beneficiaries at the event commended the ministry for the opportunity, pledging to maximise the values gained from the training and use them to build a better Nigeria.