The Lagos State Government has been called upon to urgently complete the appointment of Supervisory Councillors and Secretaries to the Local Government (SLG) across the state’s Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), seven months after the inauguration of duly elected chairmen.
Stakeholders have described the continued delay as more than a routine administrative matter, warning that it constitutes a structural deficiency that weakens institutional governance, undermines merit, and sends troubling signals about the state’s commitment to effective grassroots development.
Local governments remain the tier of administration closest to the people, bearing responsibility for primary healthcare, sanitation, local roads, markets, environmental management, and community development. These critical duties require a fully constituted executive framework — not a concentration of authority within a single office.
Supervisory councillors play a vital role in providing sector-based oversight across departments such as Works, Health, Education, Agriculture, and Environment. Their appointments ensure specialization, improve project monitoring, enhance service delivery, and strengthen internal accountability mechanisms. Their absence inevitably limits operational efficiency and shared responsibility in governance.
Equally indispensable is the role of the Secretary to the Local Government (SLG), who serves as the administrative engine of the council. The SLG coordinates departments, maintains institutional records, ensures procedural compliance, and safeguards continuity in governance. Without this office properly constituted, administrative processes risk fragmentation, weakened coordination, and loss of institutional memory.
Observers note that timely appointments would deliver measurable benefits, including:
Enhanced operational efficiency and professional specialization
Stronger internal checks and accountability
Improved policy execution and project monitoring
Institutional stability and continuity
Prevention of excessive concentration of power
Greater transparency and strengthened public trust
Beyond administrative functionality, the delay carries significant political and democratic implications. Grassroots governance directly shapes public perception of government performance. When local councils function effectively — delivering visible projects, responsive services, and accessible leadership — citizens develop stronger confidence in the political system. That confidence often translates into increased civic participation and higher voter turnout during elections.
Conversely, prolonged delays in constituting full executive structures may contribute to political apathy, as citizens become less motivated to engage when tangible progress appears stalled at the community level.
Political analysts emphasize that timely appointments also strengthen party structures, deepen grassroots mobilization, and enhance political coordination. In a strategically important state like Lagos, effective local governance is not merely administrative — it is foundational to sustaining political legitimacy and democratic participation.
With a four-year tenure already underway, stakeholders caution that losing nearly a year without a fully operational executive structure represents a considerable institutional setback. Governance operates within fixed timelines; delays compress implementation windows, reduce impact, and weaken long-term planning.
Under the leadership of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the administration’s THEME agenda anchored on “Lagos Rising” and the drive for “A Greater Lagos,” the state has positioned itself as a model of administrative excellence in Nigeria. Strengthening local government structures, observers argue, should reflect that same commitment to high governance standards.
Stakeholders stress that the call is not about personalities or partisan interests, but about merit, institutional integrity, and democratic vitality. Strong institutions produce strong governance. Strong governance builds public trust. And public trust sustains political participation.
The message is clear and unequivocal: the time to complete these appointments is now. Grassroots governance must be structured, merit-driven, and treated with the urgency it deserves.
As aptly stated, “Lagos can and must lead by example.” – General Bashexy
0 Comments