LG SERVICE WEEK: OGUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS TASKED ON A RENEWED LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE AT THE PUBLIC LECTURE

...Alhaji Ayilara says all hands must be on deck to achieve this lofty height

The Ogun State Local Government Service Commission has held a public lecture as part of activities marking the maiden edition of the Local Government Service Week. 

The event which took place on Tuesday 14th November, 2023 at the Oba's complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State was themed "A renewed Local Government Service". 

In her welcome address, the Chairman of the Commission, Ms Olivia Olubukunola Onabanjo said that the lecture was purposely organised to reawaken the sleeping giants in the Staffers and ensure that they brace up for the challenges ahead.

According to her, the Commission intends to improve on core values, credibility, professionalism and integrity of the workers. Ms Onabanjo also used the occasion to thank the state governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, for his support in achieving a renewed local government service. 

The guest lecturer, Alhaji Wale Ayilara, a retired Permanent Secretary from the local government service commission and a seasoned administrator who is generally referred and referenced as the doyen of Local Government Service hinted that lack of constitutional provisions have hampered the workings of the service commission which to him, can be solved via good work plan and strictly adhering to the constitutional provisions for local government. 

The guest lecturer who  spoke broadly on the theme of the lecture reeled out functions of the local government according to the fourth schedule of the Nigerian Constitution. 

     

  The Doyen, Alhaji Ayilara therefore expressed disatisfaction with the total take over of the revenue by the State governments through enactment and other state edit, saying that there is need to return and reorganize old order and functions as to put the local governments in Nigeria back on track. 

In their contributions to the topic of discussion, Dr. Lanloye, director of Bureau of Public Procurement was of the view that the local government should adopt international best practices in the discharge of their duties while  Mr. Aregbesola , also canvassed for a synergy between the political functionaries and the Union leaders in moving the service forward. 

His Royal Majesty, Oba (Professor)Saka Adeola Matemilola , the Olowu of Owu Kingdom , speaking through the High Chief, Abiodun Oladimeji Lasile 

 was of the view that human capacity building should be in the front burner while thanking the Commission for adequately making sure that staffs go for trainings, workshops and seminars as well as instituting this lecture which according to him, must be a regular practice which will surely be of great benefit to staffers of the Local Government Service.

His royal majesty, Oba H. R. Tayo, the Oselu of Okeselu, however, commended the leadership of the Commission for organising the maiden local government service week, but was of the view that the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) has an important role to play in the recovery of the revenues taken over by the state goverments in the country.

The monarch stressed that council chairmen can hardly do it but the NULGE leadership should take it  upon itself while calling on other professional unions in the local government to rally round NULGE in the course.

" In our time, all these dirty jobs , we do it for our chairmen but they give us financial support." ---- the monarch emphasised.

Speaking at the event ,  the ALGON Chairman, Ogun State, Hon Emilola Gazal , thanked the Commission for the lecture, saying, " It is timely."

The Local Government boss, said as the theme of the lecture , the renewed local government service, suggests that things are no longer the same as they were which many people refer to as the golden era of local government in Nigeria during the blessed memory of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo's regime as the Governor of Ogun State .

Hon Gazal reiterated the need to address the grey areas in order to have a functional local government service that people will be proud of anywhere in the world.

His words : " A Chairman as today in a Loca Government has an approval limit of #250.000.00, tell me today, what can #250.000.00 do, that is approving limit of a council chairman."---- the council's helmsman revealed.

Dignitaries at the public lecture include  Hon. Lukmon Adiro, full time commissioner 1, local government service commission and other full time commissioners, Dr. Adeolu Olufowobi, Permanent Secretary local government service commission and his counterpart from the Bureau of local government pension, Mrs. Bukola Adeniregun, Royal fathers, body of retired Permanent Secretaries, body of retired Head of local Government Administration and serving Heads of local Government Administration, directors and heads of department.