The Chairman of Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo State, Hon. Akinwole Ayobami Akinleye, has declared that local government chairmen across the state have no excuse not to perform, especially with the level of support and structure provided by Governor Seyi Makinde.
He made this known while highlighting key achievements of his administration in the past one year since assuming office. According to him, the governor has laid down a clear and effective governance template that council bosses only need to replicate to drive development at the grassroots.
“We don’t have any excuse not to perform, I mean all local government chairmen in Oyo State. Because His Excellency has given us a template; all we have to do is copy and paste,” he asserted.
Reflecting on efforts made to improve security in Akinyele, the chairman recalled an emergency security meeting he convened shortly before the last Ileya festival.
“It was almost criticized at the time, but eventually everyone agreed it was the right call. Kidnapping incidents were rising, and we discovered that those who claimed to be holding night vigils in forests were becoming soft targets for kidnappers. Besides, the gatherings caused noise pollution and disrupted the peace at night,” he explained.
He said the meeting brought together religious and traditional leaders including the CAN chairman, the Chief Imam of Akinyele, and the head of traditional worshippers. “That decision remains one of the best we’ve made concerning security,” he added.
In a bid to strengthen local security operations, the council procured motorcycles, safety gear, and advanced touch lights for security operatives. A Sienna bus was also acquired for joint patrols involving non-state actors, including vigilante groups.
The chairman also spoke about improvements in power supply, revealing that solar lights have been installed within the council premises and across selected communities to enhance night-time security.
“When we assumed office, the local government premises was always in blackout. Today, we have solar lights in place, and we’ve extended them to communities where needed,” he said.
The chairman further said that his administration has constructed infrastructures across the local government such as road constructions and borehole constructions in communities.
On revenue generation, he addressed complaints from residents about tax burdens, explaining that such funds are vital for running the council efficiently.
“People claim that the tax local governments collect is too much, but this is how we generate revenue to run the local government,” he said. “Although I’m not where I would have wanted us to be, we are making steady progress.”
He also disclosed a new initiative to generate income through the marriage registry. “We just introduced something on the marriage registry where we can also make money. It’s still in view, but it’s one of the ways we’re trying to diversify our revenue sources.”
Addressing the controversial topic of local government autonomy, the chairman recalled that the state once experienced a decentralized system where councils managed their own finances. However, that approach led to challenges such as unpaid salaries and pensions in several LGAs.
“There was a system in place before, but some councils started owing salaries and pensions, so Governor Seyi Makinde stepped into the situation and turned it around through proper administrative agreement,” he explained. “That method has been getting things done. If we want to change it, it should be something better, not return us to that dreadful situation where councils owe pensions and salaries.”
He concluded by reaffirming his support for the current structure, describing it as one that ensures accountability and results. “To me, this system we are using in Oyo State is helping us.”
