By: Daniel Dovoeke
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| Ajulo Mautin Oluwatoyin |
Ajulo Mautin Oluwatoyin the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for chairmanship election, Badagry Local Government unveiled a six-page manifesto, promising to bring social-economic and human development to people through selfless services and participatory relationship approach.
He disclosed this on Tuesday at a briefing with journalists at his residence in Badagry, Lagos State.
Ajulo said, local government is the third tier of government in Nigeria and is the closest to the people. Meanwhile, the role of any government and its agencies in society is highly essential and cannot be Overemphasized. Government, including at local levels, are primarily responsible for security of lives and property, which can further enhance development.
"Maintenance of public infrastructure and institutions, regulation of economic policies, maintenance of law and order, and the welfare of the people at large.
Note: government is indispensable such that, in the absence of any form of government in society, anarchy and chaos thrive.
He stressed further that "A major hallmark of democracy is social justice, which we don't have in Nigeria. Social justice ensures that every citizen have access to certain thing, irrespective of your status. Our rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are sacrosanct, and he promised to ensure these rights are upheld. Until this is achievable, other things cannot work, he stressed.
The manifesto read partly:
AS CHAIRMAN, IT WILL BE MY DUTY TO ENSURE;
1. MAINTENANCE OF LAWS AND ORDER: We will vigorously pursue cordial relationship with youths, market women, artisans, transport unions, student unions, security agencies, and traditional institutions in conjuction with the National Orientation Agency to ensure smooth adherence to law and order. A peaceful society is key to successful government.
2. IMPROVEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF OUR MOTOR PARKS AND MARKETS: We will ensure that, within available resources, equal representation of government and dividend of democracy spread towards the continued improvement of our designated markets and motor parks within the local government. This is my promise.
3.COLLECTION OF RATES, FEES AND RENTS: Robust and transparently driven revenue collection system empowered constitutionally. The era of loopholes and under-reporting shall be history with my administration. Staffs shall be adequately motivated to deliver responsibly. We will increase our internally generated revenue responsibly without inflicting pain on people. we will equally block all identified loopholes to ensure development.
4. CONSTRUCTION OF FEEDER ROADS AND DRAINAGES: The coastal terrain of Badagry must infom our needs to clearly declare "a state of emergency" in the area of provision of feeder roads and adequate drainage. It's our goal to further improve on what is on ground.
5. PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES: Our long-standing clamour for recreational facilities in Badagry must get the attention of the state government under my administration. We will pursue vigorously the actualization of the Badagry City stadium. We need relevant support in this area.
6) PROVISION OF HEALTH FACILITIES: Our primary health centers will be further revitalized and revamped for quality health care delivery aimed at encouraging our grass root people to patronize them. Our campaign of better health care provision will be home-driven through availability of mobile clinics.
7) PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES: We will pursue the agenda of ensuring the creation of more schools across our local government through active engagement with the state government and liaison with our local folks for provision of land for this purpose. This will not alter our plans of continuous improvement on existing facilities.
8) SUPPORT FOR TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE: Tourism remains a major potential untapped revenue for Badagry. It potential remains unharnessed. My administration is going to put up a formidable team of professionals in this field to assist in showing us a workable road map in this department.
9) SCHOLARSHIP AND BURSARIES: We will ensure adequate Bursaries within available resources are programmed for deserving and indigent students as a complement to their parents' responsibilities to them. We can't affordd to have illiterate population.
10) ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL VENTURES: We intend to empower our farmers' as we embark on partnership and support in the area of fertilizers, improved seedlings, training across board and provision of tractors for cultivation. All farmers guild will be encouraged to register and become active to be able to enjoy these facilities.
11) PROVISION OF SOCIAL AMENITIES: We will continue to work closely with our Community Development Associations for the provision of transformers, bore hole projects, drainages, access to better road network etc. Our relationship shall be seamless with the people. I will structure my economic activities with a distinct agenda that involves a development plan that will be focused on generation of sustainable economic opportunities for micro, small, and large scale businesses.