Mr Abdulateef Ashimi, Chairman of Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, says Federal Government allocation to local councils is sufficient to drive meaningful grassroots development.
Ashimi disclosed this on Tuesday, in Lagos.
According to him, there is no excuse for local government chairmen not to make visible impacts in infrastructural and human capital development at the grassroots.
“The federal allocation under President Bola Tinubu has increased drastically.
“This increment is for the people at the grassroots to feel and benefit from the dividends of democracy and also enjoy good governance,” he said.
Ashimi added that the development was part of the economic reform policies of President Tinubu aimed at positively impacting the grassroots.
“The economy is gradually improving and local governments are benefiting from the reform policies of the present administration.
“With the huge allocation coming directly to local governments, residents at the grassroots are expected to benefit immensely through infrastructural development and improved economic conditions,” he said.
The council chairman said that prudent management of public funds and transparency in governance remained critical to achieving sustainable development at the local government level.
According to him, residents deserve democratic dividends in improved roads, healthcare facilities, educational support programmes and environmental sanitation initiatives in their communities.
Ashimi said that its council priorities people-oriented programmes and that residents had been impacted by the various welfare and development initiatives of his administration.
“My administration prioritises education, supports programmes in wards, promotes infrastructural development, inclusive governance, open door policy, youth empowerment, good healthcare system, and human Capacity building, ” he said.
Ashimi appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Tinubu administration.
He said that the citizens would soon enjoy the benefits of the reforms of the present administration.
“Rome was not built in a day, development is a gradual process, there is light at the end of the tunnel, “he said.