Council boss hails open-door policy, backs autonomy

The Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Mr Sulaiman Bamidele, said operating an open-door policy had helped his administration tackle grassroots issues within the community.

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Bamidele stated this after casting his votes during the Local Government elections held across Lagos State on Saturday.

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He explained that his office was always open to all, and he personally received people day and night to gather feedback and identify pressing needs.

“This policy has greatly helped my administration, and if re-elected, I will continue in this direction,” Bamidele said.

He added that his next term would focus more on empowerment programmes, as the council now has access to increased financial resources.

“We will use the available funds judiciously for the benefit of the people and the community at large,” he added.

Bamidele said the ruling on Local Government autonomy by the Supreme Court would allow councils to handle larger, impactful projects within their constituencies.

He noted that Lagos State councils enjoy partial autonomy but still lack full administrative control to execute large-scale projects independently.

“Funds come in on time, but for any project above ₦35 million, we must get state approval, which should not be the case,” he said.

He argued that full administrative and financial autonomy would enable councils to approve major projects without state interference.

Bamidele described the election in Surulere as peaceful, noting there were no major issues or complaints reported.

He commended electoral officers for arriving on time at polling units and ensuring voting began promptly in most locations.

“Some areas experienced delays due to the wrong voters list being brought, but once reported, it was quickly corrected,” he added.

(NAN)