IN SPITE OF LEVIES, TAXES COLLECTED, COMMUNITIES ARE STILL SUFFERING POOR SOCIAL FACILITIES

Demolition school at Arumoh Street 

Since the creation of 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDA) under the then Bola Ahmed Tinubu Alliance for Democracy (AD), that is now All Progressives' Congress (APC). The story has never been the same. It has gone from bad to worst for a lot of people.


The Local Council Development Areas for politicians and beneficiary of the system, is a pathway of development for communities not developed. However, going by realities on ground, it is a continuation of attacking the poor with draconian laws and policies.

It is not necessarily meant to provide social welfare, which fundamentally is the essence of LGA. But it is for the pro-rich politicians to carve a continent of their own. According to public opinion, this is the exact idea behind the creation of LCDA under Tinubu administration.

Despite there is an existing 20 Local Government in Lagos State, who on their part has failed too to provide for the need of people, because of the policies the ruling parties implement. The council area also, is meant not to serve that purpose, but to drill the poor with levies and taxes.

Realistically, this is the exact fact playing out at Ifelodun LCDA, where the administration has successfully execute policies, not necessarily for the improvement of social welfare, but to build an empire for themselves through levies and taxes rake from the poor.

Fatai Ayoola, AJIF Chairman 

The Fatai Ajidagba led APC administration is on the list of such government. Some beneficiary has openly defended the administration, as one viable regime that is reputable since Ifelodun was created. However, there is no fundamental impact on the lives of people.

What the politicians has successfully done is to carried out projects, which indirectly they are beneficiary and equally award the contracts to themselves.  In spite of this, condition of living is deteriorating everyday, as the economic policies of government deepen the crisis.

The excuse for the LCDA, in addition with LGA, has been that government don't have such capacity to provide jobs, or other related welfare. This might sound very excusable on the part of government, if accepted by the general public. However, the  fundamental truth is that the LGA and (LCDA) have such "capacity".

Sadly enough, with the millions of unjustifiable money rake from the poor through levies and taxes - water and other related needs can be provided with public resources. However, there are hundreds of homes under Ajeromi Ifelodun that doesn't have access to clean drinking water.

At every ten homes, nine doesn't have access to clean drinking water. What people have to drink is Bourne Hole Water (BHW), which in every ten streets two streets or less use, f not now well treated. Sometimes, it is worst for people if dealers that pump water, because of epileptic power supply.

Fatai Ajidagba, Ifelodun Chairman

The Ayoola and Fatai Ajidagba led APC administration claiming to have provided Free Education, social welfare, healthcare etc are all farce.  Despite the regime has claim to be carrying out  minor rehabilitation on roads, (contract awarded to themselves). The poor state of primary school education remains the same.

Under Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA and its Development Area: Ifelodun LCDA. There are more than 6000 private schools under the nose of this local government, while public primary schools are less than 79. Many of the public schools have less teaching staff, poor facilities, overcrowded classroom etc

Of course, both the government of Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA and LCDA, will argue they don't have the capacity to employ teaching staff. However, the funding of primary education is their basic primary responsibility. But what has happened in the last twenty years is degeneration of public primary schools.

Apparently, the Lagos State APC led government also share in this huge failure, in the poor condition of living for the poor people who live below a dollar (N360). In addition, the fearing state of public education, where virtually all public schools are suffering the same fate of commercialization and degeneration.

Emphatically, the essence of creating development area as in Ifelodun, is not to provide the needful but to exploit the poor with levies, and imposed taxes that is not justifiable. The poor state of Primary healthcare is another topple crisis. People don't have access to affordable health care.

In fact, the health centre is in a pity state. There are no modern facilities and equipment including standard pharmacy in most of these health centres. For a population that is around 5 million or more. The Health Centres in Ajeromi Ifelodun is less than FIVE. Statistically, what this implies is that, less than ten homes don't have access to health care.

Dilapidated road at Cardoso/Mba

And most of the private hospitals are not even accessible. There are above the reach of the poor. The worst of it all is that, for Y2018 and Y2019 Fiscal budget for Ajeromi Ifelodun, healthcare is less than 4.9% and the government on their part said "primary health centres will be build in all the nine wards".

However, since the regime came to power, not a single health centre has been built. Besides, the claim by the government to be erecting new structures is hullabaloo. Apparently, the existing health centres lack any basic facilities to aid the work of medical staff.

All these put together confirm the fundamental idea behind the creation of LCDA, which is not to improve living condition of the poor, but to add more burden by imposing levies and taxes, that are not use to provide the needful in spite of the monumental allocations; in addition, the IGR.

Without people coming together to get organized under a political alternative - socialism - to challenge the policies of the government, and fight for provision of social welfare like water, primary healthcare, roads, jobs etc the local government and the councils areas under a failed system, will continue to have their way.

It is only when public resources are well manage democratically, not as it is done under the PPP government of APC (PDP), but for the masses to collectively decide how public resources - the allocations and IGR - will be use adequately to provide public needs. If not, nothing fundamental will change especially now VAT is 7.2%.

©Davy Fidel
LIFEINSLUM