The Lagos State Government has announced plans to collaborate with civil society organisations community development associations and community development committees to enhance grassroots dissemination of government programmes and safeguard public infrastructure.
This was disclosed during a one-day sensitisation programme themed “Volunteerism as a Veritable Tool for Community Development and Governance” held at Alausa, Ikeja.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Political, Legislative, and Civic Engagement, Dr. Afolabi Tajudeen, emphasized the importance of volunteerism as a bridge between the government and residents.
He noted that CDAs and CDCs play a critical role in informing their communities about government initiatives and laws that impact their lives.
“As CDAs and CDCs, you are the direct link to the grassroots. It is your responsibility to take government programmes, initiatives, and even laws back to the people in your communities so they can benefit,” Tajudeen said.
He further encouraged residents to engage with the government by sharing their challenges and offering solutions to improve governance and service delivery.
The Permanent Secretary in the Office of Political, Legislative, and Civic Engagement, Sholabomi Shasore, highlighted the ongoing vandalism of public infrastructure as a significant issue.
She explained that the government invests substantial resources in providing infrastructure for residents, but repeated vandalism strains the state’s budget, diverting funds meant for new projects to repairs and replacements.
“The Lagos State Government has provided a wealth of assets for residents and youths. However, vandalism of these infrastructures is an ongoing challenge. Repairing damaged assets delays the provision of new ones and consumes resources that could have been used elsewhere,” Shasore stated.
She urged community volunteers to collaborate with the government in safeguarding these assets to ensure they remain beneficial for future generations.
The President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, commended the Lagos State Government for prioritizing citizen engagement.
“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to fostering a partnership with the people. Engaging citizens through programmes like this strengthens governance and ensures accountability,” Adeniran said.
