The Senate, House Committee on States and Local Government Administration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in collaboration with SEGNIP Promotion, a consulting firm, on Saturday 7th of November, honoured Hon. Husitode Moses Dosu, Chairman of Badagry Local Government, as the Best Performing Local Government Chairman in Lagos State.

The Award Ceremony took place inside the Ladi Kwali Conference Hall of the Sheraton and Towers Hotel in Abuja.

The event, which was graced by high-ranking personalities such as Senator Kabiru G’aya, Deputy Minority Whip; Babatunde Omotoba, Aviation Minister; Engineer Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Deputy Governor of Kano State; Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u, Chairman, Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration; Senator Muniru Muse, Member, House Commitee on States and Local Government Administration; Hon. Musa Garba, Special Adviser to the Zamfara State Government on Projects, saw Husitode Moses Dosu adjudged the Best Performing Local Council Chairman in Lagos State.

Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u, while delivering his keynote address reflected that developments could best be engendered through community participation at the local level. He however decried the State Governments for whittling down the constitutional powers of the Local Governments. He noted that the State-Local Government joint account had not favoured Local Governments and he tasked the Constitution Review Committee to press for reforms that would enhance proper service delivery at the third tier of government.

The Chief Executive Officer of SEGNIP Promotion, Kayode Adegbayo, commenting on the Award, said Local Governments were assessed based on the mandate and approval of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration.

“The specific objectives of the programme,” he said, “are to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of services and administration of the LGAs, promote the spirit of healthy competition and rivalry among LGAs, instill the culture and practice of accountability, transparency and good governance, and of course to provide a reasonable, verifiable and scientific basis for identifying , recognizing and celebrating good leadership and achievers of Local Government tier.”

He noted that the survey conducted by his firm provided a good platform for assessing the performance of LGAs as well as creating an opportunity for benchmarking them, set minimum standards. Kayode Adegbayo disclosed that a total of 150 LGAs were adjudged worthy for 2009 Nigerian Local Government Development Award out of the entire 774 (Seven Hundred and Seventy Four) LGAs across the country.

Commenting on the Award, the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Husitode Moses Dosu said he was thankful to God for the honour. He however said dedicated the Award to God and the entire people of Badagry.

The Award, makes total, 15, the number of Awards the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government has been conferred since he assumed office on October 30, 2008.