By Correspondent in Lagos.
Sen. Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun, representing Lagos Central, has called on residents to hold their local government chairmen and councillors accountable to ensure better governance at the grassroots.
The senator made the call on Saturday after casting his vote on Lagos Island during the local government elections across Lagos State.
Sanni-Eshilokun stressed that for democracy to thrive, elected local officials must be regularly engaged by their constituents and made to deliver on their mandates.
“Communities must hold their chairmen and councillors accountable and engage them regularly to ensure they serve their people effectively,” he said.
He charged elected officials to work diligently, deliver democratic dividends, and prioritize infrastructure development across their local councils.
“It is important to bring government closer to the people,” he added.
The senator reaffirmed his support for the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), emphasizing that the conduct of local government elections by state electoral bodies is constitutional.
He dismissed criticism of state-managed polls, noting that even in the United States, state electoral commissions conduct major elections.
“Therefore,there is no reason to prevent state commissions from conducting state and local government elections,” Sanni-Eshilokun said.
On the contentious issue of local government autonomy, the senator said Lagos had long embraced independence for its councils.
He cited his personal experience as a former council chairman, asserting that local governments in the state operate without interference.
“Local governments in Lagos State have been autonomous and manage their funds without interference. I once served as a local government chairman in Lagos and can confirm the autonomy is real and functioning,”he affirmed.
He expressed optimism that other states would soon comply with the recent Supreme Court ruling mandating local government autonomy, praising the Federal Government’s stance on enforcing the judgment.
“The FG has directed that any state still operating a joint account will face consequences. It is only a matter of time. The FG must insist on direct payments to local governments.”
According to Sanni-Eshilokun, the Federal Government has resolved to pay funds directly to local councils, bypassing any joint state accounts,a move he said would deepen democratic governance at the grassroots.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
