Legislative
Ado-Odo/Ota Executive, Legislature Agree on Regular Dialogue to Boost Governance
By Joseph Sunday
The Executive and Legislative arms of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government in Ogun State have agreed to strengthen collaboration through regular joint meetings and improved information sharing to enhance governance and service delivery.
The resolution was reached at an Executive-Legislative Dialogue organised by the African Foundation for Environment and Development (AFED) with support from CIVICUS. The meeting was held at the AFED office in Ota.
The dialogue brought together the Local Government Management Team led by the Executive Chairman, Hon. Lawal Adewale Wasiu, FCA, and members of the Legislative Council led by the Deputy Leader and Councillor for Alapoti Ward, Hon. Lateef Oseni, who represented the Leader of the House. Also in attendance were elected officials, political appointees and career officers.
The session, facilitated by Barrister Ayo Adebusoye and Oghogho Olabisi Florence, who has supported similar engagements with the Lagos State House of Assembly, provided a safe space for frank discussions on institutional relationships, participatory governance, legislative oversight and communication gaps in the local government.
In his welcome address, AFED Executive Director, Adeshola Afariogun, said the dialogue was part of the Community Environmental Justice and Civic Action Labs project, an initiative designed to promote citizens’ participation, accountable governance and community-led development.
He explained that the project began with the selection of 49 women, youth and community leaders from across Ado-Odo/Ota, who were organised into 10 thematic Citizen Groups. The groups were trained in Environmental Justice, Civic Space and Citizens’ Rights, Governance and Participatory Budgeting, as well as Advocacy and Strategic Communication.
According to him, AFED had earlier facilitated a policy dialogue between the Citizen Groups and the Local Government Management Team, while the Executive-Legislative Dialogue was convened to deepen coordination between both arms of government and prepare legislators for constructive engagement with citizens.
Participants described the forum as the first structured dialogue of its kind involving the Executive, Legislature and career officers of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, noting it as a critical step towards building trust and establishing a sustainable framework for cooperation.
Setting the tone for the engagement, Adebusoye said the dialogue was intended to be an open and honest conversation to improve working relationships, stressing the constitutional role of citizens’ participation and the legislature in a democracy.
In his response, Hon. Lawal commended AFED and CIVICUS for providing the platform. He acknowledged the complexities of governing a diverse local government like Ado-Odo/Ota and stressed that effective governance demands synergy among the Executive, Legislature, career officers and the people.
At the end of deliberations, both arms agreed to harmonise their calendars and institutionalise joint meetings on a monthly or quarterly basis. They also agreed to strengthen information sharing on government projects, budget implementation and developments within councillors’ constituencies.
AFED, on its part, pledged continued support through evidence-based training, research and advocacy to improve legislative performance and public administration in the council.
In his closing remarks, Afariogun urged participants to translate the resolutions into sustained institutional practice and thanked CIVICUS for funding the dialogue and the broader Community Environmental Justice and Civic Action Labs project.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to regular engagement, participatory governance and stronger collaboration for improved service delivery, in line with the guiding principle of the Ado-Odo/Ota Citizens Engagement Platform: “Together We Build Better Communities.”
