By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS— The Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos State, Adedayo Ladega, yesterday, pledged to strengthen collaboration between the council and residents of the community, to enhance development.
Ladega gave the assurance during the Y2026 Budget Consultative Forum held at the council secretariat in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
He promised that residents would always have a voice in the development programmes of the local government during his tenure.
The proposed 2026 budget of the local government was tagged ‘Budget of Prosperity for All’ based on the administration’s Security, Education, Enhance health care and Development (SEED) agenda.
“Today, we are to discuss how we can achieve our budget of prosperity for all and to provide an opportunity for every resident to have a voice in shaping Ikorodu LG’s year 2026 budget.
“My administration will follow the SEED agenda because we believe in a government that listens, acts and delivers promises,” he said.
The chairman said that his administration had made some strides since he was sworn in and promised to continue in that direction.
He listed the distribution of farm implements to 500 farmers, distribution of free General Certificate of Examination(GCE) forms to students and summer coaching programmes as some of his successful programmes.
The chairman said his administration had also organised free medical outreach programmes, improved access to water and implemented the clean Ikorodu campaign, among other things.
He commended stakeholders for their contributions and promised to ensure that all their observations at the forum were considered in the budget planning for year 2026.
At the forum, Mrs Busola Isikalu, Iyaloja of Ikorodu, called on the council chairman to provide space to build new markets that would accommodate more traders.
She also called for the provision of interest free loans and quarterly meetings with the traders in the community.
On her part, Mrs Omolara Olatunji, Secretary, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ikorodu Zone, urged the chairman to provide subsidised farm inputs and chicken feed, among others, to support their businesses.
Elder Jelili Ogunjimi, Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Ikorodu Division, appealed to the chairman to always consider the committee in his planning, as a major stakeholder.
The traditional ruler of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi (Ayangbure of Ikorodu), represented by Mr Kayode Olomo, community leader of Ojogbe, urged the chairman to prioritise construction of inner roads connecting the entire community.
Also speaking, Mr Oyebiyi Banjo, President of People Living With Disabilities in Ikorodu, called on the chairman to always consider them during budget preparation and empowerment programmes.
He appealed to the chairman to help with provision of crutches for their members in need of such support.
