Mr. Ernest Olabowale Kasunmu, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman for Agbado Oke-Odo in Lagos State, has emphasized the importance of sustaining the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, describing them as indispensable for grassroots development.
In an exclusive recent interview, Kasunmu, who represents one of the 57 CDCs in Lagos State, highlighted the role of LCDAs in improving governance, fostering community development, and reducing youth unemployment.
Kasunmu revealed that Agbado Oke-Odo boasts over 320 Community Development Associations (CDAs), making it the largest in Lagos State.
“The CDC supervises the activities of CDAs, while the Community Development Advisory Council oversees the CDCs at the state level,” he explained.
He noted that much of the development in local areas originates from the CDAs, citing instances where communities purchased land, installed transformers, and developed infrastructure long before the government intervened.
Relationship with the Government
According to Kasunmu, the CDCs act as advisors to the local government and are considered the “fourth tier” of governance.
“We are on the ground, and we know what happens in every nook and cranny of the local government,” he stated. He stressed the importance of the local government funding CDC activities to ensure effective service delivery.
Addressing concerns about the possible scrapping of LCDAs due to local government autonomy, Kasunmu argued that LCDAs have proven their value.
“The LCDAs have come to stay. They ensure equitable distribution of resources and provide leadership opportunities at the grassroots. For example, in the old Alimosho, there was only one council chairman and two councillors for the Agbado Oke-Odo area. Today, we have multiple leaders and civil servants benefiting from the LCDA structure.”
Kasunmu credited the establishment of LCDAs to the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State Governor.
He compared the impact of LCDAs to the success of education districts and healthcare reforms, which created opportunities for teachers and healthcare workers to rise to leadership positions.
Kasunmu emphasized the need to engage youths to curb crime, attributing insecurity to youth unemployment.
He called for increased investments in sports, which he believes can serve as a tool for economic empowerment and crime reduction.
Recalling the tenure of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and the late Ademola Adeniji-Adele as Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Kasunmu said, “Sporting events across the five divisions of Lagos State drastically reduced crime rates at the time. We need such initiatives again to keep the youths engaged and off the streets.”
Kasunmu also advocated for state and community policing, arguing that local officers are better equipped to understand and manage local issues.
“If a police officer from Maiduguri is posted to Agbado Oke-Odo, it would take him years to understand the community. However, a local officer already knows the people and the terrain,” he said.
Kasunmu believes that state police would enhance security by fostering community accountability and faster crime resolution.
On the issue of local government elections, Kasunmu called for proper sensitization to boost voter confidence.
While he expressed support for elections conducted by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), he stressed the importance of educating voters about the value of their votes.
He recalled the impact of the mass mobilisation for the Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) program, which motivated citizens to vote during the 1993 presidential election.
Kasunmu identified the lack of proper monitoring as a major challenge facing local government administration.
He urged the government to ensure that funds allocated to local councils are used effectively. “People want to see the money on the streets – in the form of projects and services. Proper monitoring will bridge the gap between allocations and visible development,” he said.
As Lagos State continues to evolve, Kasunmu reiterated the significance of LCDAs in achieving inclusive development.
He urged the government to enhance youth engagement, strengthen local governance structures, and ensure accountability in public spending to foster sustainable growth at the grassroots.
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