17th September, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has abolished the Special Adviser status and reviewed other administrative procedures for the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state.
The changes were effected at a stakeholder’s meeting of the Lagos State Government with Executive Secretaries, Council Managers and other Stakeholders’ on the revised guidelines on administrative procedure for Local Government at the Secretariat, Alausa,Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria on Tuesday.
Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Jaji said part of the reform included the change in the designation of Council Manager to Head of Administration, abolition of Special Advisers at the Local Government level and reduction of technical department to two while the number of units is also pegged at five in each LCDA.
According to Jaji, the new guidelines on administrative procedure would change and maximise the returns on how the resources were being managed in the various councils and ensured community participation in the process.
Jaji reiterated that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had directed that the 2010 Administrative guidelines should be reviewed to bring it in line with the best practices worldwide in community governance under a Federal structure.
“The meeting also looked into the state and LGAs relationship with emphasis on harnessing their synergy. Local Government is the closest government to the residents which informs the emphasis of the present administration on community governance by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
“As you all aware, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured the citizens of Lagos of ensuring grassroots development and has also urged all stakeholders to collaborate with the state government in the provision of infrastructural amenities in our various communities,” she said.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Jafar Sanuth, said that the guidelines on administrative procedure were part of government’s reforms in ensuring proper accountability and promoting cordial relationship.
He emphasized that any reform introduced at the state level would be cascaded to the LG level while the capacity of staff would be enhanced greatly.
The Chairman of the Conference 57, Mr. Kolade Alabi, commended Governor Ambode for the inclusive reform and assured that all the cardinal points as adopted would be applied in line with the guidelines.
He added that Executive Secretaries would work with Ambode’s plans for productivity and the realization of the Lagos Development Plan by ensuring that every citizen felt the impact of the government.
Other government functionaries present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi; Local Government Auditor General, Mr. Musibau Jimoh and Mr Adebayo Sobowale, Director, Recruitment and Transfer, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission.