By Olushola Okewole
Regular public hearings to get citizens’ input to laws, appropriating the yearly budgets and performing oversight functions on budget implementation are a few of the numerous achievements listed by the councillors representing the six wards in Ejigbo LCDA as they clock three years on the saddle.
Others include enacting bye-laws, holding empowerment programmes including the distribution of materials for self-employment, provision of feeding items during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and sponsorship of training for applicants.
Speaking on their behalf, the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Honourable Councillor Lanre Akinbowale said all the councillors representing the six wards in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) were inaugurated on July 26, 2017 and mandated by law to vet, debate and approve the council’s budget and ensure it’s implementation.
He said they were also to serve as the bridge between the wards and the Council, advise the chairman on the development of the wards and undertake oversight functions and visitations.
When asked about challenges faced so far in office as the legislative arm of the council, Akinbowale said they faced the first challenge when they assumed office as they were all first timers with little experience and had to rely on the training they had a day to the induction.
According to him, the second challenge is that people do not have the knowledge of the office of the councillors, they do not know the functions of the councillors different from those of the executive arm as many people accuse them of not fixing roads in the community and all that, which, he said, are not the main functions of the legislative arm but those of the executive.
He further stated they faced financial challenge, explaining that there was lack of fund to aid developmental projects in the LCDA.
To increase the federal allocation, he noted that the allocation from the state government is not enough, pleading with the Federal House of Representatives and the Senate to harmonise the 37 local council to bring about deserved development at the grassroots.
