At the grassroots, leadership is not measured only by big promises. It is often seen in the ways government touches people’s daily lives: a student who receives support to sit for an examination, a young person who gets an opportunity to earn, a trader who receives assistance to expand a business, an elderly resident who benefits from medical care, or a family that receives support when schools resume.
In Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda, popularly known as AKOD, has built his administration around an emphasis on engagement with residents and community stakeholders. His administration’s stated priorities include citizen participation, education support, youth empowerment, healthcare and social services.
Since assuming office as Chairman, AKOD has drawn on his previous experience as Secretary to the Local Government under his predecessor, Engineer Mojeed Balogun. That experience, according to the administration, gave him an understanding of the workings of the council and the concerns of residents.
His background in student unionism, civil society and pro-democracy activism has also influenced his approach to public service. Known in those circles as “Lagbaja”, he has sought to bring issues of accountability, justice and good governance into his administration at the grassroots.
One feature of the administration has been its emphasis on engaging different groups within the local government. From children and youths to elderly residents and market women; from petty traders to corporate organisations; and from community vigilantes to security personnel, the administration maintains contact with various stakeholders. Its open-door approach also provides opportunities for residents and community representatives to raise concerns and seek responses from the council.
The administration’s education and youth programmes provide examples of this approach. In August, the council distributed 250 GCE examination forms and provided 250 holiday jobs for secondary school students. The beneficiaries carried out community-oriented duties and received N40,000 each at the end of the month, with no transport costs. The council has also commenced coaching classes for Ikeja residents preparing for the GCE examination, running from Monday to Saturday.
The council is also scheduled to distribute school bags and stationery, including mathematical sets, exercise books, pencils, rulers and biros, to primary school pupils on Friday. The initiative is part of the council’s support for pupils as they return to school and its stated focus on education and youth development.
At a time when monthly allocations from the Federation Account may increase, the use of public resources remains an important issue at the grassroots. For any local government administration, the responsibility extends beyond the availability of funds to how those resources are deployed to meet the needs of residents and communities.
For AKOD, the office of chairman represents a responsibility to engage stakeholders, respond to community needs and remain accountable to ward members and residents.
The measure of grassroots governance is ultimately reflected in the experiences of ordinary people. When public programmes reach the classroom, the market, the street and the family home, government becomes more visible in the everyday lives of residents. In Ikeja, the Dauda administration has made community engagement and people-oriented programmes central to its stated approach to local governance.
Femi Moliki writes from Lagos
