The executive chairman of Itesiwaju local government area of Oyo State has inaugurated Stakeholders in Governance Forum in line with his administration’s agenda to engage the LGA’s key players in participatory governance.
The council boss, Hon. Niyi Adeagbo, who was joined by his deputy – Hon. Kayode Adeniji, the council’s Director of Administration and General Services, Alhaji Fatai Akindele, councillors and other top officers, inaugurated the forum on Wednesday in the secretariat hall.
In his address, he said that the local government administration under his watch is not only to represent but also involve citizens in determining specific local public needs and how these local needs can be met. Hence, the inauguration of Itesiwaju Stakeholders in Governance Forum (ISGF).
“We are determined to run accountable, transparent, accessible and all-inclusive local government administration. The reason we are inaugurating this nonpartisan forum is to enthrone a participatory governance in Itesiwaju LGA. This forum will have subcommittees that will compile, present, follow-up and supervise the executions of the actual needs of our seven major towns that make up the council area”.
“I must emphasise that we are involving you because of your individual’s strategic position in our various towns. We are giving you an opportunity to influence public decisions and to be a component of the democratic decision-making process” Hon. Adeagbo said.
Hon. Adeagbo mandated the inaugurated members to go back to their various towns to consult with the rest constituents and identify their urgent infrastructural needs. The reports of the subcommittees are expected to be submitted to the office of the chairman within the next two weeks for considerations and necessary governmental actions.
The stakeholders in their remarks lauded Hon. Niyi Adeagbo for keying into Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s policy thrust of all-inclusive governance. They described the chairman’s initiative as unprecedented in the history of local government administration in Oyo State.
The forum pledged to collaborate with Adeagbo-led administration in bringing desired developments to the council area.
Included in the ISGF are the representatives of the council’s traditional rulers, community development associations, Muslim community from each town, Christian community from each town, non-indigenes from each town, coalition of youth groups from each town, the NURTW, the RTEAN, the ACCOMORAN and other notable elders from each town.
Present at the event were the immediate past secretary to the council, Hon. Ibrahim Taofeek Barrywhite, Alhaji Dhikrullah Osuolale, Alhaji Zakariyahu Baale Agbe, Hon. Taofeek Ajarat, Hon. Wunmi Akinpelu and among others.
