New Normal Era, We Need to Maximize Government Budget to Meet the People’s Need Amidst the Pandemic – Council Chairman
The Executive Chairman IRU/Victoria Island LCDA, Hon. Princess Rasheedat Abiodun Adu has emphasized the need to maximize government budget to meet the needs of the people amidst the pandemic. She affirmed this at the 2021 IRU/VI Budget stakeholders’ forum held amidst strict compliance to government protocol on COVID-19 on Monday at the council Secretariat
This was contained in a press release made available to Lagos Panorama by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Kausara Olaleye.
The 2021 Budget which was themed: Maximizing Government Budget in the face of pandemic, in a view to continue the development of the LCDA as implemented in the previous year and to ensure good, quality infrastructural development and good health facilities within the LCDA despite the pandemic.
Giving the opening remarks, the Council Head of Budget Department, Mr Ogunbambi Ismail said that the budget stakeholders’ forum is a medium to interact with the people on their respective opinions about the community and to ensure effective maximization of Government budget in the face of the pandemic.
Addressing the stakeholders present, the Executive chairman said, “in as much as this administration continues, the residents of IRU/VI well-being and development is paramount to us. Hence the need for this forum to lias on the needs and development of the LCDA with the stakeholders in order to get the major need of the resident at a particular time and to also focus more on the health sector due to the pandemic”.
Chairman added that “with reference to last year’s ‘Budget of continuity’ and the request of residents, it is of great joy that effective development have been made for a greater IRU/VI despite the unexpected COVID-19”.
“Some of which includes rehabilitation of Industrial Borehole at Oniru Estate, rehabilitation of Muri Okunola Roundabout, renovation of Army Children school, Bonny Camp Primary school, poverty Alleviation for the elderly, provision of Food palliatives to residents amidst COVID-19, provision of thousands of facemask and hand sanitizer to residents, purchase of New Legislative building furniture and sponsoring of Youth Entrepreneurial skill training, amidst others” she highlighted.
“We are in a new dispensation, the New Normal Era whereby things have to be done differently due to COVID-19; let’s cultivate the habit of hand washing, sanitize your hands, use the face mask and adhere strictly to all other precautionary measures.” Chairman exhort the stakeholders.
Similarly, Head of Education Department, Mr Charles sensitize the stakeholders on the need to make their wards learn a skill which is much available at the council Secretariat, in his words.
Charles said “we have free skill acquisition centre here at the council to enable anyone interested get a skill without much stress or cost”.
In the same vein, the Secretary of Victoria Island and Ikoyi Resident Association (VIRA), Alh. Abdul-Lateef Muse said, ” I really appreciate the chairman for her commitment towards the development of the community, but we won’t stop to ask for more and the maximization of the budget as the theme implies”.
Conclusively, the chairman implored everyone to dutifully and promptly pay their Taxes and Levies to further increase proactiveness of government work and this year budget will be tailored towards the needs of the residence and increase health facilities to curb and fight COVID-19 in our community, state and the country at large.
In attendance for the event includes, the Vice-Chairman, Hon.Segun Ogunbiyi, Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Taofeek Afolabi, Council manager- Mrs Ogidan Adepeju, Council treasurer, Mrs Folikwe, IRU, Leader of the house, Hon. Aminat Alabi, APC LGA Chairman- Hon. Kokoroowo, Supervisory Councillors, Councillors, Baale’s, APC Youth Leader, Hon. Timi Durojaiye, community CDA, cooperate organization and other community stakeholders.
