Ademola Jimoh-Balogun is the Council Treasurer of Yaba LCDA. In this chat with yabacity.com, he talks growing up and the life philosophy he lives by.
What was your childhood experience like?
My name is Ademola Jimoh-Balogun. My childhood experience was quite rough one and I have always preferred not to remember these things. I only focus on the future and my plans. I had two other siblings, but they are no longer with us which leaves just me. Although, I do have fantasies about what I would have wanted my childhood to look like but then, God is the determinant of everything.
I love focusing on the future and that’s what I tell my children. To the glory of God, I was able to pass through those things and still be alive today.
Please share with us your educational background.
I grew up in Ijanikin, Badagry. I got my elementary and secondary education there before proceeding to the Polytechnic Ibadan to study Banking & Finance. Afterwards, I went to study Accounting at the Lagos State university (LASU). I enrolled under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), wrote, and passed the exams and became qualified as an Associate in 2004 and a Fellow in 2017.
I just completed my master’s degree in Accounting at the Lagos State University in 2020. Due to the pandemic, my final presentation was delayed until about four months ago.
How did you come to be in the employ of the Lagos State Government?
It was all unplanned though. After getting my Higher National Diploma, I was employed by the Parastatal Monitoring Office of the Lagos State Government for seven years and saw the discrimination between HND and BSc certificate holders. So, the idea of not playing second fiddle inspired me to further my education in a university. In fact, my boss then, Mr. Adeyemi, encouraged me to pursue my ICAN certificate. I have tried locating him again but without success.
With my induction into ICAN, I gain the confidence that I could serve under the Lagos State government for longer if I wanted to. I transferred my service to the Local Government Commission in 2010.
In 2011, after serving with the commission for about four months, I was deployed to Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA for about a year.
I was later transferred to Olorunda LCDA in Badagry as a Second Signatory for about a year. The Council Treasurer retired, and I served in his capacity temporarily for six months before someone else took over the position in September 2013. In December 2013, I was given a substantive appointment as a Council Treasurer and transferred to Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA until December 2014. Afterwards, I was moved to Ikorodu Central Local Government and served there from December 2014 until May 2017. Then on to Ifelodun Local Government from 2017 until June 2019. Shortly after, I was transferred to Yaba LCDA.
With your wealth of experience serving as Council Treasurer at many grassroot levels, what role those internal generated revenue (IGR) play in governance?
IGR is important in any society. Even the monetary allocation from the federal government is still considered revenue and that, including IGR is what the local governments work with. This is grassroot government, the closest to the people and we must tailor our mode of collection according to the people. Nonetheless, progressive changes need to be employed such as that which we have engaged in with Taxaide Technologies Limited, to design an automated revenue generated platform for easier collection. While we are aware of the digital divide which exists in the society which may not be easily adapted to in some quarters, the revenue team, including myself, are constantly working towards improving our revenue collection system.
What life philosophy do you live by?
Never to look down on anyone. We did not all grow up the same way and have the same opportunities presented to us. So, when I find myself in a high position, I do all in my capacity to accommodate the people around me no matter their backgrounds.
