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Job opportunity, Infrastructural upliftment tops demand as 8th Assembly holds parley

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7 years ago

October 7, 2017

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The simultaneous constituency stakeholders meeting held in 39 constituencies out of 40 in Lagos State,themed “True Representation and Accountability”, witnessed barrage of constituents needs echoed for prompt inclusion in the 2018 budget.

Mr Gboyega Salvador, former Special Adviser to Ex- Gov. Babatunde Fasola said over 41 roads in the area had been damaged when Abule-Egba Flyover Bridge was being constructed.

“Mainly, our challenge, because of the flyover that was done at Abule-Egba, is bad link roads. The first things the state should have done is to repair all the inner roads.

“We have lost almost 41 inner roads in Ojokoro LCDA (Local Council Development Area) and this is affecting the economic activities of the constituency.

“Educationally, we are backward; the government needs to give us more. We need to develop markets,” he said.

Salvador, who described Ambode as a performer, lauded the idea of the Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting to feel the pulse of the people.

Also speaking, Oba Saka Taiwo, the Alagbado of Orile-Alagbado, who commended Ambode for infrastructural development, added most inner roads in the area needed repair.

“We want the government to do more to ensure provision of employment opportunities for our children who have gone to school.

“We are not saying the government is not trying, we are only saying they should not rest on their oars but try harder for the development of the society.

According to him, the lawmaker representing the constituency had done so much for the youths and the community at large.

The Babaloja General of Ojokoro LCDA, Alhaji Akinloye Oladejo also called for a state of emergency on inner roads in Ojokoro, saying that bad roads had been affecting industries and markets in the area.

Oladejo, who noted that Ambode remained a listeners, urged Makinde to commune with the governor to repair all inner roads that went bad as a result of the construction of the flyover bridge, as he laud Makinde for performing beyond expectations.

Speaking with Newsmen, Mr Tony Nwokolo, the Proprietor/ Founder, Hope Fountain School for the Deaf, Ojokoro commended Gov. Ambode and other representatives for identifying with people living with disabilities.

Nwokolo, a deaf, said: “We are disabled part of the community. As you know in Nigeria, people look down on the disable but with the coming of Ambode, things are improving.

“Our representatives in the council, state and federal are not identifying with disable. Any time they visit our school, we are always very happy for identifying with us.

“Special schools need more attention from Government, philanthropists for the provision of school clinics, bus , canteen, and many other things.

“Being a disable is not the end of the world. Whether you are deaf or blind, there is hope. We want government to look into employing the disabled. We want the society to give inclusive treatment.

“If government wants to employ 100 people, it should consider the disable community, for example if 80 per cent goes to able body, 20 per cent can go to the disabled. That will give us a sense of belonging in the community.’’

Earlier in his speech, Makinde, the Chairman, House Committee on House Services said that event was to feel the pulse of the people as their representative and relate same to the executive arm.

The lawmaker said that the House, under the leadership of the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa to ensure that people have meaningful representation.

“We do this through good laws that guarantee infrastructural developments, creation of more jobs and qualitative education for the benefit of all.

“Also, we want to ensure affordable health care delivery system that ensures the well being of our people and establishment of a security system that promises safety of lives and property among others.

Makinde said that suggestions, demands and requests of previous stakeholders’ meeting were collated and forward to the executive arms, which had resulted in most infrastructural projects. He said that the objectives of the meeting were to strengthen participatory democracy, ensure true representation through accountability and seeks inputs from constituents on their welfare and need.

The lawmaker said that the House had done a lot to improve legislative competence and accomplishments by review old legislations and initiating new ones to meet current needs.

“We have passed various resolutions that have changed the lives of the people and the face of Lagos State. The House has continued to work tirelessly in attending to disputes bordering on matters of justice, violation of human rights and others,’’ he said.

From the mainland to the Island and hinterland, lawmakers were confronted with problems the constituents have been grappling with,which deserve policy statement that could afford them the needed respite.

In Ifako-Ijaiye constituency 2 stakeholders called for speedy repairs of most of the inner roads linking the Abule- Egba jubilee flyover bridge constructed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, as most of them are now in deplorable state.

Epe constituency 1

The Oloja of Epe,Oba Kamaru Isola Animasahun,APC party leaders, other stakeholders in Epe constituency I have endorsed Hon Abiodun Tobun to represent them in the Lagos State House of Assembly for the third term.

APC chieftain,Chief Akanni Seriki Bamu,Epe monarch and other constituents gave the nod today during the simultaneous Town Hall meeting across the forty constituencies in Lagos,which took place at Epe Local Government Secretariat in Epe Constituency I.

While appreciating the lawmaker for good representation, they expressed their willingness to have him represent the constituency for the third term in order to bring more development to Epe I.

Meanwhile,since the program was an opportunity for the constituents to interact with their representative, people of Epe constituency took turn to express their mind about Tobun’s representation and their needs as a people.

A member of Fed House of Representative, Hon Wale Raji ,representing Epe constituency commended Hon. Tobun for his giant stride in particularly in the area of education, the distribution of GCE form for the over 150 students,he promised to join hand with him to promote the education of Epe indigens .

The Iyaloja General of Epe Land,Alhaja Mulikat Onibon lamented the rate of Youth unemployment in Epe and urged the honourable other leaders to do something about it, so that the devil will not take advantage of their idleness to engage them in criminal activities.

Hon Fariu Arebi ,a former member of Lagos State House of Assembly,while commending the effort of the government in the area of education, he lamented the inadequacy of infrastructure, he however added that the issue of congestion in the classroom in Epe schools should be immediately addressed.

Another constituent ,Alahaji Bishi Babatunde,reminded the Lawmaker about road to Ise and Ipomu,he commended the state government on security issue particularly on kidnapping in Epe environment which was becoming a worrisome issue for them.

Alhaja Bola Lawal from Ward C I mentioned the Eleran igbe road ,a rout that was said to connect 30 villages to the Town,which serves as an alternative route to Lekki Epe express way,the road if constructed she said would also prevent accident on the water ways

Aare Oriba ,Adesegun Hassan told the lawmaker,”don’t just remember us during the election alone,particularly at Oriba,we are still very much behind in area of education,teachers only come to the school twice a week

He then complained about their king who has not be given staff of Office since while lamenting that they are loosing so much economically,”we are loosing so much in term of our farm produce not getting to town because of transportation problem”.

In response to the issues raised by the constituents,Hon. Tobun said all the issue of primary schools would be handled by the council chairman,Hon Adedoyin who has also promised an empowerment program for over 100 people.

“They have started working on those things,we have compiled our list of needs,sent to SUBEB,they have consented to do them,they have started work,anyone we cannot do this year we will put it in the next budget”, he said.

On road construction he said,”We have discussed the issue of Eleranigbe road with LAMATA,even the Ministry of Works,they told us what they are doing ,we are on top of the situation, the government want to do six Jetties in Lagos and one is coming to Epe,we cannot say everything should be Epe because the Governor is from Epe because other lagosians will revolt”, he added.

On the issue of employment, he explained that the present administration is trying on that,”we will get there gradually, Ambode government has employed 1300 primary school teachers, so also secondary school teachers, Nurses were employed, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI official, LASTMA,Neighborhood Watch over 2000 of them,we are getting there.

Speaking with Journalists after the event,the lawmaker explained that “the significance of this meeting is to bring our people together in a way of feedback mechanism to interface with them and get a feedback on how far we are faring, what their yearnings looks like, what they want from government and how far have we gone in implementing the 2017 budget.

“The strategy we are employing to meet the peoples need are in two dimensions, one is to compile the needs, send it to the house and they are combined into a compendium for onward transmission to the governor for implementation.

Secondly, as a career civil servant, I put this into writing, forward it to appropriate quarters,agencies to put it in the 2018 budget and monitor at the later date to ensure that they were really implemented.

He thanked his party APC,religious leaders,traditional leaders,market women,politicians, and other constituents for their support ,”we will not rest on our oars to ensure we don’t let you down,I am not tired I’m still young and we pray that you should continue to give us your support so that we can do more.

Ikeja constituency 1

The kernel of the parley at Ikeja 2 constituency centres on job opportunity for the youths.

Honourable Folajimi Mohammed, representing the constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly laid credence to the peoples demand at the stakeholders forum.

According to the stakeholders, the governor needs to provide more employment opportunities for the teeming youths and young graduates that have nothing to do.

In his words, Mr Wale Amole, Auditor, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikeja Local Government said so many youths were yet to be engaged after acquiring various degrees from colleges and universities.

Amole said: “We want employment for the youths. The governor has done so much but we need more job opportunities. We need assistance from our performing governor.’’

According to him, if youths are adequately engaged, the crime rates will drastically reduced in the area.

Also speaking, Alhaja Iyabo Akerele, the APC Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA, who commended the grassroots developmental activities of Ambode and Mohammed, said attention should be given to employment for youths.

“This Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting is a noble initiative and we saw the result of our suggestions last year. The most important thing we are looking for now is employment for our youths.

“We want our governor to give this a priority. We want our governor and representative to bring more empowerments to the grassroots for the youths.

“When youths have jobs in their hands, they won’t be roaming around the council or the House of Assembly for money,’’ the party chief said.

The lawmaker, however, said that Ambode had done so much since he assumed the office, saying more are still expected to be done to make life easier for the people.

Also speaking, Mr Augustus Sawyer, a constituent, said that there was a need for a primary school in Oregun area of the constituency.

Sawyer said that if the school was provided, greater access would be given to many children to a attend school not far from their residence.

Reacting to the requests, Mohammed, the Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources said, though legislators were limited in what they could do, he would influence more projects to the area.

Alimosho constituency I

The stakeholders parley held at Maddox Hall, Ipaja had in attendance, landlord associations, Arewa community, leaders of political parties, traditional rulers, representatives of League of Imams and Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), market women, artisans, youth among others.

While speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Community Development Committee (CDC), Comrade Alaye Adebayo called for the reconstruction of Old Otta and Aminkanle Roads, noting that if these roads are done it will decongest the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway.

In his words, “They used to call Agbado Oke-Odo, Oko paki but today the story has changed. Oke-Odo is well developed but we want attention on our linked roads. If these roads are done, it would add more value and decongest the Express Road.”

Also speaking, Mosan Okunola Community Development Committee (CDC), Akinfolarin Baruwa said when people made demands and their grievances were given credence, it showed the leader is credible.

Baruwa commended the lawmaker for living up to expectation, adding that our representative has been wonderful by making sure that he fulfilled all his promises to the constituents.

He however appealed to the lawmaker to put pressure on the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to complete Abesan Mini Stadium, saying “the project has been abandoned.”

He also urged the state government through their representative to rehabilitate Western Junction, Pipeline Road in Mosan Okunola, adding the only canal in their area has been completely blocked, saying the canal should urgently be evacuated.

Their counterpart from Ayobo Ipaja, Community Development Committee (CDC), Abiodun Coker observed that to boost the commercial activities in the area, the project for Ayobo Fish Farm should be actualized.

Coker also called for construction of Bridge linking Ikotun and Egbe, saying that would ameliorate the current hardship of the residents.

The chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who simply identified himself as Alhaji Anishere appealed for construction of Motor Park, saying where commercial drivers are currently using is causing gridlock.

Honourable Adebisi Yussuf representing the constituency at state Assembly and also Chairs the house committee on Public Account (Local), said the town hall meetings have led to the creation of more jobs qualitative education, affordable health care delivery system and the establishment of good security system for the benefit of the citizenry.

Charging participants to contribute meaningfully to the meeting, the lawmaker outlined infrastructural projects in the State and particularly in his constituency are outcome of previous meetings, promising not to rest on his oars the lawmaker assured his constituents of his continued efforts in effectively representing his constituency .

The Lawmaker assured his constituents of his continued effort in ensuring equitable development in the constituency, saying their demands would be collated and its report would be part of the 2018 budget estimates.