Top career officers in the Local Government Service of Oyo State have been urged to establish strong relationship with new Councils Chairmen, through offering of sound professional advice and guidance on established procedures for all decisions, agreements and implementation of Government policy directives.

The Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Aderemi Ayodele recently gave the charge at separate meetings with Heads of Local Government Administration and Directors of Works in the Local Government Service of Oyo State at the State Secretariat Complex, Ibadan.

Dr. Ayodele asserted that as technocrats, having institutional knowledge of Local Government system and administration it was imperative of all the Heads of Local Government Administration and other Heads of Departments to play their roles effectively, by ensuring prudent management of scare resources for optimum performance, through strict compliance with due process, in line with the present administration’s policy trust.

This, he said, was necessary to discourage blatant disregard for due process that could raise serious questions about transparency and accountability in the Local Government administration.

The Commission Chairman, therefore, warned all Council officials to be mindful of infractions and their attendant consequences in their day-to-day official dealings,

He concluded that the Commission will not hesitate to sanction any officer that fails to work according to the public service rules and laid down administrative procedures.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale disclosed that the recent staff verification exercise embarked upon by the Commission to inject sanity into the system has yielded positive results which has prompted the Commission to strengthen its strategies in monitoring the activities of every Local Government employee in Oyo State.

He reiterated the need for all principal officers to maintain effective relationship with their subordinates and establish clear line of communication and supervision to avoid confusion and infractions.

The Permanent Secretary specifically implored the Directors of Works in the Local Government service not to compromise standard on any project being embarked upon in order to avoid project failure; adding that the delivery of high quality job is the hallmark of the present administration. He, therefore, enjoined every Council to strive to meet up with the accepted standard of the State Government for sustainable development of the Council areas in the State.

Deacon Adewale later calls on Council Staff to imbibe the Commission’s core values which include; professionalism, accountability, commitment, teamwork, good ethical values and zero tolerance for corruption. He further charged Heads of Departments to show sincerity in their official dealings and demonstrate high degree of commitment, noting that, it takes a committed leader to get other people committed.

FEMI OGUNDIPE

Ag.Director of Education & Social Services

LGSC.

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has expressed the readiness of his administration to fully resolve all issues and make the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs functional again, stating that it has become imperative to restore the body.

Governor Makinde made this disclosure on Friday, when he met with traditional rulers across the State, at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, noting it has become expedient to resolve all issues so that the Council could contribute its quota to the development of the State in its official capacity.

Though the Makinde Government has been carrying along the traditional institution in the State as shown in their involvement in different activities and policies of Government, the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs has been unable to meet officially since 2011.

The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Barr. Bayo Lawal, said that the administration had, in a bid to reconstitute and restore the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, earlier called for recommendations and suggestions from the members of the Council.

He added that the Government has received recommendations and suggestions from all the geopolitical zones of the State and that it would go ahead to treat the same with all the seriousness and confidentiality they deserve.

He said: “We have engaged the monarchs in consultative activities relating to the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State.

“Recall that this council has not been functioning as required by law and it has become a source of worry for the Government of Oyo State.

“The Governor, in his wisdom, has decided to do something about it in such a way that the council becomes functional again.

“Since 2011, this council has not sat for once, and you recall that our royal fathers are custodians of culture in various local government areas and zones of Oyo State.

“Therefore, the Government, with a view to reconstitute the council, called for ideas, suggestions and recommendations from our royal fathers in a manner that will promote stability in the council and promote development in Oyo State.

“We have received observations and suggestions from the five geopolitical zones of the State, Ibadan zone, Oyo, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun zones.

“We have received very profound and useful suggestions that will make the Government to make necessary amendments to the Chiefs law of Oyo State.

“This is our discussion until proper reports are made. Those suggestions from our Kabiyiesi will be treated with confidentiality by the Government of Oyo State until we are able to come up with agreed resolutions by both the royal fathers and Government of Oyo State.

“Those suggestions and recommendations remain as they are now.”

Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, charged the traditional rulers to seek common ground and embrace unity, respect, and mutual understanding in the efforts to reconstitute the Council.

He added that it would take the collaborative efforts of the State Government and the Council to stamp out many criminal activities, including land grabbing, Kidnapping, banditry and illegal mining.

In attendance at the event were the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni; and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Abiodun Aikomo.

Traditional rulers from all zones of the State were also in attendance.

…tasks HLGAS to be assertive

Local government workers in Oyo State have been urged to demonstrate great sense of commitment to their job by being punctual at their duty posts and discharge their duties diligently.

The charge was made by the Chairman Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Aderemi Ayodele during a meeting with the Heads/ Ag. Heads of Local Government  Administration of the 33 LGS/ 35LCDAS in the State.

Dr. Ayodele emphasised on the need for the Local Government staff to key into the rebranding efforts of the Commission by developing passion for their job and strive for quality service delivery, in conformity with the Commission’s core value and hallmark of Governor’s Makinde led administration.

Speaking further, the Commission Chairman charged the HLGAS/Ag. HLGAS to live above board in order to be best positioned to supervise and coordinate the activities of their subordinates well. He further implored them to shun anything that would jeopardize the current administration efforts to transform the grassroots in the State.

Earlier in his contribution, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Establishment and Pensions matters, Alhaji Siju Lawal, who witnessed the meeting, seized the opportunity to enjoin the generality of the Local Government staff to be diligent and performance driven. He spoke extensively on quality service delivery, ethical values and establishment matters which he said are central measures for administrative competency.

The Special Adviser further urged the HLGAS to be meticulous in treating official matters, ensure proper documentation and spare time to supervise whatever duty assigned to their subordinates. He later assured that the workers friendly policies of Governor Makinde’s administration will be sustained.

Equally in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale, emphasised on the necessity for punctuality and quality service delivery adding that indolence and deliberate absenteeism would not be acceptable in the Local Government service and urged all and sundry to braze up for attitudinal change.

“The recent council
visitation embarked upon by the Commission was just one of the ways, the Commission intends to monitor Local Government personnel, to ensure conformity with the set rules and regulations of the service. It is important for all Local Government staff to be mindful of the service extant laws, as the commission will not hesitate to apply necessary sanction for any infraction.

Justifying this, Deacon Adewale stated that there was no reason for any worker in the Government service of Oyo State to be indolent or lazy considering the current administration’s enormous incentives and windows of opportunities for the workers, which. he listed to include; steady career progression through consistent promotions, regular resourceful manpower training programmes, prompt payment of salaries/ wage award and recent approval to civil servants to access Agricultural credit loan, which he said should propel all civil servants to strive for the best in order to justify their earnings and as well for the Government to achieve its lofty goals for the public, the PS concluded.

Oyo State Local Government Service Commission began on Monday, the verification exercise for Local Government employees in all the 33 Local  Governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas in Oyo State.

The verification exercise was flagged off at Ibadan South West Local Government Secretariat, Alesinloye, Ibadan by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr Aderemi Ayodele who was represented by the Full-Time Commissioner, Alh. Taiwo Akeem Oke.

Speaking on the essence of the exercise, the Full-Time Commissioner stated that the exercise is meant to authenticate the number of staff and Ad-hoc Workers on the pay roll of all the Local Government in Oyo State. He further  added that an up-to-date data was needed to assist the Government in its efforts to strengthen the Local Government administration in the State

Alh. Oke, therefore, urged all Local Government employees to participate physically in the exercise and provide all necessary documents required. He equally advised all council workers to comport themselves during and after the exercise, assuring that the purpose of the exercise was not to witch hunt but was conceived to add value to the Local Government service

Present at the kick off of the verification exercise were other Board members, the Permanent Secretary, Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale and some principal officers of the Commission.

Femi Ogundipe

AG. DESS

LGSC