By Okunola Oluwakemi
Lagostrend Reporter
As the local government elections in Lagos State approach, one critical issue that voters and political stakeholders must consider is the performance of the current crop of council chairmen and councillors. With 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), these officials are the closest to the people and bear the primary responsibility for grassroots development. Unfortunately, some of them have failed to meet the expectations of their constituents. Rewarding underperformance with a second-term ticket reduces trust in leadership, encourages underdevelopment at the grassroots level, and undermines democratic accountability. If Lagos is to achieve her goal as a smart city, grassroots development must not be taken lightly, and only the best minds with vision and the ability to drive development should be allowed to lead the local government.
Lack of Basic Infrastructure and Services
One of the primary responsibilities of local government administration is to provide and maintain basic infrastructure, including roads, drainages, street lighting, markets, schools, and healthcare facilities. However, in many local government areas, roads remain in deplorable conditions, with potholes making transportation a nightmare. Drainage systems are often clogged, leading to persistent flooding during the rainy season. Market spaces are left in disrepair, affecting small traders who rely on them for their livelihoods. Public schools are neglected, with dilapidated buildings, lack of furniture, and insufficient teaching materials. Similarly, primary healthcare centres (PHCs) are poorly maintained, lacking essential drugs, proper staffing, and adequate medical equipment. If a chairman cannot deliver these fundamental services in four years, what justifies granting them another term?
Failure in Waste Management and Environmental Sanitation
Effective waste management is crucial to maintaining a healthy environment, yet several local councils in Lagos have failed to keep their communities clean. Streets littered with refuse, clogged gutters, and an overall disregard for sanitation have become the norm in many areas. A chairman who cannot oversee efficient waste disposal and ensure a clean environment has failed in one of the most basic responsibilities of governance.
Youth Development and Economic Empowerment Neglect
With the rising unemployment rate, local governments should play an active role in youth empowerment through vocational training, skill acquisition programs, and financial support for small businesses. Unfortunately, many chairmen have ignored this crucial aspect of governance, leaving young people without opportunities for growth. While some among those who are offering empowerment initiatives fail to equip beneficiaries afterward, making the training useless to some since they cannot afford the necessary equipment needed to utilise their newly acquired skills, others allegedly distribute the equipment among their inner circle, who did not participate in the training and often end up selling them, leaving the youths who genuinely need the support with nothing but a certificate. Instead of investing in human capital development, some councils focus on white elephant projects that have little or no direct impact on the people.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
A significant problem plaguing local governance in Lagos is the lack of transparency in budget allocation and expenditure. Many chairmen fail to provide clear accounts of how public funds are utilised, leaving residents in the dark about the true state of their finances. Governance should be about service, not self-enrichment. When a chairman cannot provide a transparent breakdown of revenue and expenditure, it raises serious concerns about corruption and financial mismanagement.
Absence of Community Engagement and Responsiveness
A good leader listens to the people and engages with them regularly to understand their needs. Unfortunately, many local government chairmen have isolated themselves from the very people they were elected to serve. Even those who hold town hall meetings have turned them into party general meetings, allowing only party members to participate, which is very wrong and does not align with democratic practices. They rarely hold town hall meetings or seek public input in decision-making processes. When leaders are detached from the concerns of their constituents, they cannot effectively address pressing issues.
The Need for Fresh Ideas and Leadership
Democracy thrives on accountability and performance. If an elected official has failed to deliver in their first term, allowing them a second term means endorsing incompetence. The local government system should not be a retirement home for ineffective politicians. Instead, it should be a platform for visionary leadership that prioritises the needs of the people. New leaders with fresh ideas and a genuine passion for service should be given the opportunity to bring meaningful change to their communities.
The Role of Political Parties and Electorates
Political parties must take responsibility by ensuring that only credible candidates are given tickets to contest. Rather than rewarding underperformance with automatic second-term tickets, parties should conduct thorough assessments of each chairman’s track record. Likewise, the electorate must be vigilant and actively participate in the election process. Voters should refuse to be swayed by temporary handouts or political gimmicks. Instead, they should demand accountability and vote based on merit.
Lagos State deserves a grassroots leadership that is responsive, accountable, and development-oriented. The forthcoming local government elections present an opportunity to correct past mistakes and usher in leaders who genuinely care about their communities. Underperforming chairmen who have failed in their duty should not be rewarded with a second term. It is time for Lagosians to demand better governance and ensure that only competent, transparent, and visionary leaders emerge.
The power to shape the future of Lagos lies in the hands of the people. It is time to use that power wisely.
Lagostrend is committed to holding public officials accountable and advocating for a better Lagos.
If you know that your local government chairman has performed drop his or her name on the comments session
Stay connected with Lagostrend Media for continuous updates on governance, economic growth, and policy advancements in Nigeria.
All of our news services are free. A donation will help pay our webmasters, editors, graphic artists and keep our service running. Your support will keep Sahara Reporters fully independent. Donations from readers like you make our work possible.
Please chip in to help support our work this season,
Lagostrend Team.
For support contact+2349020574193
Lagostrend Media is a product of a dedicated Journalist and a public analyst.
We appreciate you for reading this post, but we think it will be better you like our facebook fanpage and also follow us on twitter and all our social media platforms to get latest updates.
Are you an artiste? Do you want your music to go viral and reach a large number of audience? Promote your music with Lagostrend Media , You can also advertise your product, business or brand
Share News with us via WhatsApp: +2349020574193
?Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: Lagostrendtv
Facebook: Lagostrendfm
Twitter: @lagostrendtv
Instagram: @lagostrendtv
Telegram: Lagostrendtv
CALL Or Whatsapp LAGOSTREND MEDIA On +2349020574193 to kick-start business relationship with us for your advert, PR, Publicity, Awareness, Interviews, Feature Stories, Press Release/Statement, live streaming and Radio Appearance and so on
