Felix Mbata, Lagos state
In a candid post‑budget interview, Mayor Dr. Olufemi Akanbi Okeowo, Executive Chairman of Ifelodun LCDA, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to sincerity, transparency, and collaborative governance. With the Sixteen Billion Thirty Eight Million Five Hundred and Nineteen Thousand One Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira Ninety-Five Kobo (#16,038,519,155.95K) budget now on the table, he outlined how the council’s “Okeowo‑Education, Okeowo‑Money, Okeowo‑Health, improvement of infrastructures, and others” pillars will be funded through a mix of federal allocations, improved internally generated revenue, and prudent fiscal management.
Okeowo began by explaining that achieving the ₦16 billion target will not be easy, but he is confident because President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has made revenue collection as simple as eating pap. The removal of fuel subsidies has freed up resources, and the President’s swift translation of those funds to states and local governments gives Ifelodun a solid foundation. “We count on the President’s ability to keep the flow coming, “as security improves, trade flourishes, revenue rises, and more money reaches the grassroots.”
On the roles of the legislature and the executive, Okeowo described a partnership: the legislature crafts the laws that shape fiscal frameworks, while the executive implements them, mobilises resources, and ensures delivery on the ground. “Both arms must move in sync for the country to progress, and in Ifelodun we are already feeling the benefits of that cooperation,” he added.
Turning to the council’s flagship initiatives, Okeowo highlighted that the “Okeowo‑Education, Okeowo‑Money, Okeowo‑Health” programmes are not just slogans. “We are expanding free school programmes, subsidising essential medicines, some we give free after diagnosing the illness and launching micro‑finance schemes that put cash directly into the hands of our entrepreneurs,” he explained. “The names the people give us motivate us to turn those expectations into everyday realities.”
When asked about boosting internally generated revenue, Okeowo said the council is tightening collection mechanisms, enforcing compliance, and leveraging technology. “If we don’t collect, the budget suffers, and we cannot afford that. We are intensifying audits, offering incentives for prompt payment, and cracking down on evasion so that we can fund our programmes without relying solely on federal allocations.”
Looking ahead one year, Okeowo painted a picture of transformation: resurfaced roads, upgraded schools, fully equipped health centres, and recreational centre for youths in Ifelodun. “Our IGR will have risen sharply, allowing us to fund more projects locally. The LCDA will be the envy of other councils, not just in Lagos but across Nigeria—because we are delivering tangible results, not just words.”
He concluded with gratitude for his team, the APC leaders, and the resilient people of Ifelodun. “Together, we process problems, tackle them head‑on, and deliver the development our community deserves. That is how we turn sincerity and transparency into real progress for every resident.”