The former Head of Service, (HOS), Lagos State and the current chairman of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa on Thursday, September 29 2016, launched a new book, which chronicles his experience in local government administration. The day was also the inauguration of his Annual Award for Excellence in Local Government
Administration in Lagos State.
During the formal presentation of the book entitled, “Best practices in Local Government Administration in Nigeria: A practitioner’s perspective,” which was held at the Ikorodu Musical Village. The representative of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Margaret Titilayo Solarin, permanent secretary, Education District II Lagos State, described the author as a man of great wealth of experience in local government administration.
According to her, the book reveals the reflections of practices rendered by the author during his younger days in the service of Lagos State at the local government level. Speaking further, she said that in the past years and now, more attention had been shifted to local government administration in the state.
The permanent secretary stated that the reason for this was to ensure more dividends of democracy for Lagosians. In her view, Governor Ambode’s administration was a leading light in the attainment of grassroots democracy and best local government administration in Nigeria.
In her words, “We operate twenty local governments and thirty seven Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) structure in the state for the effective administration of the state. Through this development, we have seen experience and express delivery of democracy, participatory governance and rapid infrastructural development of the local councils.” she stated.
The Deputy Governor also talked about the local government administration amended law, stating: “On Thursday May 5, 2016, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode signed into law, the local government administration amended law. A notable feature of the new law was the increase in the tenure of the chairmen and councilors from three to four years from the day of taking the oath of office.
“It is heartwarming to state that Lagos State is a leading light in the attainment of grassroots democracy and local government administration reforms in Nigeria and I am sure that this and other issues are what the readers would be exposed to in this book”, she stated.
In her own remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said that local government remained the third tier of government and it was the closest to the people. She stated that this administration should be held in high esteem.
The Senator, therefore, traced the local government administration from the colonial era in 1943 to the present time. She commended those who had contributed in one way or the other to its growth and development.
Tinubu described Babatunde Rotinwa as an icon in the local government administration, noting his perseverance, endurance, diligence, dedication and commitment to local government services right from his youthful days to date.
Oluremi Tinubu who was represented at the event by the former Executive Secretary, Mainland Local Government, Mrs. Omolola S.N, encouraged everyone including local governments, LCDAs, government functionaries, Lagosians and higher institutions to purchase and read the book to broaden their knowledge of local government employees and serve as an eye-opener for all and sundry in terms of local government activities, reforms and laws.
Also, in her speech at the event, the First lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, who was represented by Chief (Mrs.) Adeola Agunbiade, described Alhaji Rotinwa as an experienced and resourceful man whose passion for local government administration and civil service was highly commendable.
In her welcome address earlier on, the permanent secretary, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Omobolanle Ogunmola described the book as a reflection of love, passion for service and a compendium of knowledge for the upcoming generation. She said that the determination to improve local government administration both in Nigeria and Lagos State in particular prompted the author to present the book for public use at the age of seventy one (71).
Inaugurating his annual Award for Excellence in local government administration in Lagos State, Alhaji Rotinwa presented an award of excellence: “Icon of local government in Nigeria” to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the award was received on behalf of the Governor by the representative of his wife at the event, Chief (Mrs.) Adeola Agunbiade.
Meanwhile, during the book review, the book reviewer, Prof. Adele Jinadu from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Babcock University, pointed out that the book reflected the growth, development, challenges, and successes of local government administration in the country from the perspective of an author, who spent most of his years in public service at the local government level.
Dignitaries present during the occasion included, Alhaji Rotimi Ishola, who represented Senator Gbenga Ashafa; HRM Oba Richard Ogunsanya, Oba of Ibeshe; HRM Oba Babatunde Rafiu Balogun, the Elejinrin of Ejirin Kingdom; High Chief Adesoji Ajayi Bembe, who represented Oba Akiolu of Lagos; Chief Monzor Olowosago; members of NULGE, Body of past permanent secretaries, religious leaders, Sole Administrators, among others.