Local government administration should exhibit well-decentralised and devolved structure, its decision-making process must be participatory and

all-inclusive and its implementation strategies and activities must be transparent.

 These were the words of the former Local Government chairman, caretaker committee of Oluyole Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Aleshinloye.

 The core stakeholder and seasoned local government administrator stated this in an interview with our correspondent on" Community Today"  of  CEOAfrica , a programme dedicated to topical issues and personalities in the society.

 Aleshinloye revealed that the local government is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the citizens at the grass root level are well catered for.

 He enlisted poverty alleviation at the grass root level as one of the duties of a local government chairman, as the local government is the closest tier of government to the people.

 Speaking on the autonomy of local governments, the former chairman disclosed that the major reason stakeholders are calling for autonomy is

because of lack of adequate funding as well as undue interference from state governments.

 He however, called on the federal and state governments to review the funds being allocated to the third tier of government as the people and

communities expect the most dividends of democracy at the grass root level.

 Prince Aleshinloye with the help and support of some corporate organisations, NGOs, the Association of Local Government Chairmen of

Nigeria (ALGON) and other stakeholders in the council area, was able to overcome this great challenge of inadequate funding during his time in office.

 He recorded huge successes and achievements to include road construction,healthcare delivery, education and workers welfare, massive grading of earth roads, among others.