Group tasks councils on transparency in poverty alleviation initiatives

Lagos council boss gives free 200 GCE forms to indigent students

The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) has described the ongoing palliative programmes by Chairman of Somolu Local Council in Lagos State, Abdul-Hammed Salawu, as an initiative that has vindicated President Bola Tinubu on good social packages for Nigerians.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Buna Olaitan Isiak, during the fourth palliative programme of the council, the group said that the selfishness of some trusted political associates of the council boss was openly condemned and people generally advised to be local and patriotic for the general good of all.

IN another development, Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dele Oshinowo, has given free 200 General Certificate of Education (GCE) forms to indigent students in the area.

Oshinowo, who spoke while presenting the forms to the students at the council’s secretariat, yesterday, said that the gesture was aimed to promote educational inclusivity and provide opportunities for the indigent students to gain admission into tertiary institutions.

Isiak, who lamented that the programme often faces series of frustrations by the selfishness of some electorate closer to the office of the President, said: “Our office has been getting reports on how welfare packages meant for the poor people in Somolu Local Council have often been cornered by close political associates of the chairman and this is not good for the general development and relief as desired by the council boss.”

The human rights leader, while commending Salawu for his boldness to involve a civil society and anti-corruption body to monitor the palliative distribution process, condemned in strong terms how some politicians that are expected to select people for the welfare packages have been insisting on collecting return from beneficiaries without the knowledge of the chairman.

Meanwhile, HURMA Coordinator for Somolu Local Council, Monsur Akinremi, has enjoined people on contentment and selflessness as the only way for both the government and the governed.

Oshinowo noted that the yearly initiative reaffirmed the council’s commitment to improving and creating better opportunities for the indigents of the LCDA. Also, the Vice Chairman, who doubles as the Supervisor for Education at the council, Folake Kayode, said that the council shared in the vision of the renewed hope of the President Bola Tinubu, adding that after passing their O’Level, student loan is awaiting them as part of support to enable access tertiary education.