By Paul Trend
In a bid to making sure that local people are fully carried along in governance, the executive chairman, kosofe Local Government, Hon. Afolabi Sofola hosted principal officers of the council and indigents in the Stakeholders Forum tagged: BOTTOM UP IN APPROACH IN GOVERNANCE, Tuesday, 31st October, 2017.
The august event with the theme: Grassroots Involvement In Development Policy, was a discussion session addressing emanating questions from all the 7 Wards of the council, with emphasis on the major needs of their environs!
Present at the Stakeholders’ Meeting were men and women of high profile; the chairman, Kosofe Local Government, Hon. Afolabi Sofola, the vice chairman, Hon. Awosola Omotuyi, the H.O.A, Leader of the house, Hon. Olumide County, all the councilors among others. 
The H.O.A who delivered the welcome address heartily welcomed everyone to the symposium urging them all to work harmoniously irrespective of Wards. 
Hon. Sofola who embraced all addressed the gathering, chatting the progress of the council. This, he started by reiterating the effort of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode at the Town Hall meeting which was recently held within her local government. According to him, all the issues raised by the people of Kosofe at the meeting he said would be promptly addressed as soon as possible. "What have we come here to do today? You need to tell us what exactly you want. I have not come today to read any minute to you, I have come here to listen to your wants. That is what we have come here to do today, please feel free to pour out your suggestions and questions, thank you”
The chairman also made it known to the people that the forum was to table things and plan the budget ahead of year 2018.
Not long the leaders addressed that the people were given opportunity to bring their various problems forward. One of the major issues raised by the people came from Ward-A, saying that having gotten a good health care center, they needed professional medical doctors, equipment and drugs to aid operations for the common people.
This is why Lagos as a metropolitan State will never go down, apart from the fact that the state governor is working so hard on major highways being erected with street lights, the wards also called on the local government to provide more in their environment.
Security is another center point of call at the gathering. This, as a resident of Mende (Ward-E), Alhaji Bello called the attention of the principle officers to their needs. He narrated how gangs on the Streets steel vehicle parts over night, even broad day light! He however gave kudos to the CDA security monitoring vigilante groups, but still calling on the local government to render more help. The representative of the Muslim generally condemned the fact that Islamic Religious Knowledge (I.R.K), had been neglected in the whole lot of Kosofe Local Government Area. He however pleaded on the Local Government to see to that.
Having listened to the yearnings of the people, the chairman in person responded to their questions, urging them to allow them do the budget retreat. However telling them that everybody will be present, this will aid one voice.
From another vein, the H.O.A emphasized on the fact that some local government workers have continued to get money from the citizens unknown to the government, urging them to stop! He however told the people not to pay any money to anybody, that the council has two P.O.S machines which are centralized to the body. According to him, the e-billing system is fully ready and will be embarked upon from next year. He however warned those council members who have been remitting the local government revenue into their personal pockets to stop such acts!
Hon. Sofola in his final address with the press spoke on the importance of the stakeholders meeting on the ground of making the dividends of democracy known to the people at large.
When Lagos Television (LTV) asked what the chairman has achieved so far, right Hon. Sofola pointed out his achievements so far covering good infrastructural development across board, one of which is the popular Emmanuel High School in Ogudu. "People do not like change, whether they like it or not change is inevitable, change must come" We are on e-billing system, whoever does not pay his or her tax will face the other side over time", he added. Ahead of the 100days in office coming in due time, the chairman reiterated the plan to fully emphasize on health care centers and delivery. "Make your health care center OK" Another area the chairman intends to work for the people is education. He therefore promised to resuscitate all.
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