Government-elect of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has restated his commitment to local government reforms to significantly guarantee the well-being and improved living conditions of Osun citizens at the grassroots.
Speaking while receiving sub-committee reports of his transition committee on Monday, Senator Adeleke described local governments as “the building blocks of good governance”, positing that his administration will fulfill his electoral promises by ensuring true autonomy for the local government system.
“I want to commend the various sub-committees for the fantastic job. Let me restate here that local government reforms are so dear to my heart because of so many reasons. First, a strong local government system is the best way to ensure grassroots development. Two, poverty alleviation is largely a local matter. So local governments with the required resources will speed up prosperity. More importantly, competition will become a new way for the council chairman.
“I remember those days when council chairmen competed for the commissioning of projects. Local elected leaders built roads, and develop agriculture, markets, and transport terminals. I look forward to the return of that era when council chairmen will fill the Governor’s schedule with project commissioning “, Senator Adeleke stated.
He however promised that his administration will restore accountability and transparency in the operations of the local governments to block excesses and corruption.
“We will not support autonomy that encourages defrauding of the people. We will ensure that resources and responsibilities devolved to the local governments in line with the Constitution are handled in compliance with due process and anti-corruption laws”, the governor-elect stated.
Committees that submitted reports at the plenary session include government structure, legislative relations, public service, local governments, and the workers’ sector.
