FACING FACTS: with Tayo Aderinola
It was on Wednesday 12.04pm I walked into the office of Hon Benjamin Osundairo the Deputy Majority Leader Ikeja Local Government Council to keep a date with him for the Facing Facts interview column of the Lagos Panorama interview for the oversight functions of local government legislators.
The soft speaking councillor elucidated on several sundry issues on the sustainable development of the grassroots, insecurity and a host of others. Please enjoy excerpt from the interview with yours sincerely ‘Tayo Aderinola.
LAGOS PANORAMA: For the benefit of our readers please introduce yourself?
Hon Benjamin Osundairo: My name is Honourable Benjamin Adebola Osundairo, the Deputy Majority Leader Ikeja Local Government Legislative Council and the Chairman House Committee on Works and Infrastructure.
Works and Infrastructure is a very important aspect of grassroots administration because of it direct effects on the day to day activities of the society. So on that note as the Chairman Committee for Works and Infrastructures what legislative oversight function have you done to help enhance the performance of Works and Infrastructure department in Ikeja Local Government since you resumed office 2017?
First I will want to appreciate our Honourable Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Council in person of Engineer Doctor Mojeed Alabi Balogun for ensuring a cordial relationship between us the legislatures and the executives of the Ikeja Local Government Council. He has done wonderfully well in the aspects of road construction and reconstructions and also development of other infrastructures in the Council. When we resumed office last year, Anifowoshe here in my ward, we had serious challenges with flooding and erosion and these were the first issues he solved. He opened and created more drainages to help de-flood the Anifowoshe community.
As the Chairman House Committee on Works and Infrastructure I ensured timely passage and approval of executive proposals to improve on our roads and other infrastructures. Several are completed and some are still ongoing but to be completed soon . Some of the roads that are already completed under this administration are Kofoworola street, Reginal Coker street and Itohan avenue in Ward E, Adeshina and John Olugbo streets in ward B, 2 other roads each both in ward A and ward C. Onilekere/ Onipetesi and most recently is Olawaiye street here in Anifowoshe. Also culvert and drainages were constructed in Delo-Dosunmu street, Oritshe street, Sanu and Seriki-Aro streets and a host of other developmental projects.
As a councillor your major function is to legislate laws at the grassroots, however as a political office holder which other ways have you been able affects your constituency and Ikeja in general?
Thank you very much for this question as it would give me the opportunity of spotlighting some of the things I have done so far. When we came into office with the support of the Council Chairman we the councillors pulled resources together printed and distributed exercise books to all the primary schools within and around ikeja. Anifowoshe primary school the only public school within my ward also benefited. Same year 2017 I was able to organise a free eye test programme where free eyeglasses and drugs were distributed. I also had free medical check-up programme where free drugs were also distributed in 2017 and 2018. I also facilitated the employment of some of our youths in our community. I empowered some of our women. I gave them dryers and financial assistance to different individuals. I was also able to support my community and ward with cash during festive period. Presentation empowerment to about 30 people across the six wards early this year.
I also assisted the chairman in giving out financial assistance to over ten people in my community. And more are still coming this year among which is to sink one or two borehole before the year runs out.
What’s your take on the issue of autonomy of the local government especially financial autonomy?
It has been on for quite some time now, I believe it will help the grassroots a lot considering our closeness to the grassroots the expectations of our people are very high but presently we
are not autonomous financially and the little that comes into the local government are not enough, they are mostly channelled to fix our roads. So with the financial autonomy coming for the local government now I think it will help have more to do most of our responsibilities and our people will now enjoy more dividend of democracy.
Aside from the federal allocations what other legislations are the councillors putting in place to help foster Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Ikeja local government council?
Actually on that, very soon we are calling for a stakeholders meeting before we pass four to five bills as a by-laws to improve the council’s IGR. We don’t want to press too much on our people for IGR because times are really hard but of course they also realise that is what is brought to table that will be used to fix amenities and infrastructures. So it’s already a work in progress.
What is your advice to aspiring youths into politics?
Honestly we need more aspiring youths in politics because most of our youths believe that politics is mainly for the elders or probably for school dropouts. The minimum qualification is secondary school certificate so it is an opportunity for them to aspire because the elders are aging so our youths should gradually be ready for leadership role. It gladdens me when President Buhari endorsed the Not Too Young to rule bill to allow anyone who attains the age of eighteen to be able to aspire to any position in the country.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu was sworn into office May 29th as Governor of Lagos state after Former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who had just a term in office, do you think the new governor will meet the yearnings of the people?
That’s a capital yes, Governor Sanwo-olu will surpass the people’s expectations. He has being in government since 1999 in different capacities. He is experienced and very close to the people. He had worked with our National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu when he was the governor of the state, with our former governor Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and with the last administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. So he his vast and well prepared for the job. So Lagosians should be rest assured.
The spate of kidnappings and insecurity is on the increase what do you think can curb this menace? Surprisingly it has even surfaced in the Southwest and even Lagos state. Do you think the state of the economy has contributed to this?
To me employment for youths is very important, like they say an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. People who have nothing worthwhile to think about will usually think of something bad to do. So all the tiers of government should create more jobs to engage our teeming youths positively. And the Federal Government needs to rejig the security apparatus for better performance.
Thank you so much, it’s really worthwhile talking to you.
Thank you for having me on Lagos Panorama.
