By Jerry Ocheme
Local Governments in Nigeria are seen as the government closest to the people at the grassroots which is expected to meet the basic needs of the people.
From five kilometer road construction, building of community market, collection of revenue and cleaning of communities, these obviously clear responsibilities are a few things local governments are expected to do.
There is no gainsaying that successive governments in Kogi State have neglected the local government system , hence those saddled with leadership at this level find it difficult to operate due to lack of funds and will power.
However, there are a lot of things that local governments can do even without money. One of such things is the capacity to mobilize people to do simple community work. On this, the Williams Ameh led local governments gets my thumbs up.
Hon Williams Ameh, the caretaker Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government, has been making remarkable strides in environmental sanitation and public health initiatives within the communities and particularly the local government headquarters, Okpo. His innovative approach and commitment to enforcing restrictions on movement during the last Saturday of each month have significantly improved cleanliness and hygiene standards in Okpo.
Under Williams Ameh’s leadership, the implementation of strict regulations and guidelines for waste management, litter control, and sanitation practices has brought about a visible transformation in Olamaboro. Recognizing the importance of a clean and healthy environment for the well-being of the residents, he has taken decisive action to address the challenges of waste disposal and environmental pollution at least in his own little and local way.
This monthly cleanup day has mobilized residents, community groups, and volunteers to actively participate in removing litter, debris, and waste from streets, public spaces, and water bodies. This should not stop at Okpo.
There should be a committee put in place to escalate this in Ogugu, Imane and other towns to ensure active involvement and engagement of the communities in this cleanup initiative to foster a sense of ownership, responsibility, and pride in maintaining a clean and sustainable environment.
Nicodemus Adejoh, aka Pexxy, the immediate past council chairman started this, first by ensuring that that long ago abandoned less than one kilometer entrance road into the Secretariat which in the past was a mini pond was reconstructed and channel created for flood to pass.
So, Williams Ameh’s leadership has taken over from there and has inspired a collective effort towards environmental conservation, waste reduction, and the promotion of a healthy living environment for all residents of Olamaboro.
Beyond leading from the front and mobilizing government officials to join in this exercise, there is the need for Williams Ameh to prioritize education and awareness campaigns on proper waste disposal, recycling, and sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact. This can be done using the local radio Kogi Ochaja, churches and mosques, through community outreach programs, workshops, and public forums.
A deliberate campaign should be launched for primary and secondary school on this where school children will be led by their teachers on specific days of the month to do this.
As Olamaboro continues to progress towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future, the exemplary efforts of Hon Williams Ameh serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for other leaders and communities to prioritize environmental conservation and sanitation as integral components of local governance and development.
In conclusion, it is a collective effort for us to keep our communities clean. The government cannot do it all for us.
When good is done by a leader, let us commend him and let the leader be disposed to receive punches whenever he fails to do well
