Casting a year of growth for Ikorodu Local Government, the Executive Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Adesina, his Vice-Chairman, Leader of the House, Councilors, SLG, Supervisors, Council-Manager and other Heads of Departments assembled at Admos event hall in Imota LCDA on the 11th of January 2023.
Poised to break even in its refined roles, the council boss, his legislative arm, management team and staff converged for its 2023 annual budget retreat program.
Organised to achieve an adequate knowledge of its Planning orientation, bottleneck analysis, cash allocation, increasing staff motivation, hypotheses review and funding plans, the retreat lasted for 3 days.
Addressing the cabin from the jump, Hon. Wasiu Adesina illustrated that the budget retreat is meant to fulfil part of the provision of the constitution, which is an avenue where community “inputs” are injected into the allotment as a people-oriented budget.
To improve on effective decision-making, the chairman let out that the budget retreat is an annual symposium to evaluate the direction of its fiscal economic expenses.
Restating that in 2022, the council produced a forecasted sum of One Billion, Nine Hundred And Forty Million, Sixty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, Eighty Kobo (N1,940,065,849.80) as the approved budget.
Adesina further communicated that the year 2023 budget will bolster the bond between his council and the good people of Ikorodu LG, adding that the process will produce expansion and growth for its people and their communities.
He continued, “The year 2023 budget will be carefully packaged to accommodate all the inputs, plus several requests and opinions of our beloved stakeholders to modify our decision-making method”.
“It is our applicable planning procedure that has increased the council’s revenue from just 5 million naira when my administration started to a whopping 150 million naira”.
“I can only seek absolute teamwork and perpetual prayers for this council in our quest to achieve more and move Ikorodu forward to a greater height”.
Adesina concluded by assuring everyone that all requests and submissions put together regarding the budget will receive the adequate and prompt attention they deserve.
On the retreat proper, enlightening attendees on how to tap into the hidden treasures of Ikorodu Local Government Area, Dr Olu Badejo, stated that Finance and Budgeting are some of the most challenging aspects of Local Government administration.
Shedding light on the Theme; Fostering Local Economic Development, Dr Olu Badejo explained that for the council to live up to expectations, it must appropriate a budget that poses as a catalyst to stimulate growth, not ruining the strides and expectations of others.
According to him, wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants; It’s not how much earnings the system makes, but how much of it is maintained, and how hard it reimburses works to put smiles on people’s faces.
“For the system to reduce poverty, budget propagation should be more channelled into Educating the children, Providing clean water, Ensuring basic health care and Empowering the girls or women”.
“The budget should also look into Prioritising Human Capital over Physical Capital, creating skill acquisition mediums, providing Formal education, Award Scholarships to indigent students, Empowerment programs etc”.
Dr Badejo concluded by appreciating the chairman of Ikorodu Local Government for creating an insightful budget retreat that will open the intuition of his administrative arm.
Urging the council to cash in on its huge population density, qualified and well-trained manpower, thriving taxable economic activities, Constitutionally guaranteed taxation powers and E-billing payment mechanisms to realise an internal gross revenue system for the council.
The appropriation retreat gave way for a special question and answer session which was channelled from council personnel in attendance to the guest speaker about his treated topic.
Vice-Chairman, Aarebirin (Dr) Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba in the closing comments acknowledged the chairman as a learned leader, citing his administration as unique in all of Lagos state.
On Elections, Folashade-Oba further implored everyone present to inform others to get their PVC to rationalise their voting rights during the forthcoming elections, a recommendation that was also communicated by the council boss prior.
Ikorodu LGA Chairman, Alhaji Waheed Animashaun, Party chieftains, Council Manager, Engr. Martins Odupitan, Dr Olusoga Badejo, Mr Alli Balogun, HRO Mr Abayomi Ajibola, Mr Kazeem Adesanya and NULGE Chairman, Mrs Adenike Mabodu were also in attendance.
