The Ogun State House of Assembly has enjoined the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to put in place measures towards streamlining payment of monthly stipends to recognized Baales across the State in line with existing rules to enhance their performance at the grassroots.
The Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Olusola Sonuga gave the charge this during a tripartite meeting with the officials of the Ministry led by the Commissioner, Chief Jide Ojuko represented by the Director of Chieftancy, Mr. Dolapo Adewunmi and some Baales from Ewekoro Local Government Council Area.
Sonuga said that the review became imperative to further promote peace and unity among the community heads, charging them to continue to remain the custodian of the rich cultural heritage of their various communities.
The committee Chairman, in company of members including Honourables Ganiyu Oyedeji, Akinpelu Aina and Israel Jolaosho stressed that the Assembly was committed to evolving relevant legislation that would further reposition the State to attract more local and foreign investors, counseling the traditional rulers to resolve issues of cultural and linage dichotomy in their communities so as to immediately create room for lasting solution to the non-inclusion of some of them in the payment of the monthly stipend.
In his response, Ojuko promised that the Ministry would soon commence registration for all recognized traditional community heads (Baales) with a view to checkmating the proliferation of illegal village heads across all Local Government Council Areas.
The Commissioner clarified that the non- inclusion of some Baales in the monthly payment was not limited to Ewekoro Local Government alone but to all the councils in the four divisions of the State, assuring that the situation was being addressed by government as Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration accorded high regards to the welfare of the traditional rulers.
He explained that the Ministry was saddled with the responsibility of disbursing fund to the four traditional councils in the State for onward distributions to all the traditional rulers in their respective councils with the supervision of the Local Government Councils.
Earlier in their separate submissions, the Baales of Adeagba, Chief Olufemi Olatidoye and that of Lapeleke, Chief Olusesan Akinremi sought for an immediate review of the mode of payment of their monthly stipends so as to allow all recognized Baales benefit from the government gesture to enable them cope with challenges of overseeing their respective domain.
Packaged by Charles Ogundepo
