The Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Aderemi Ayodele, has urged the heads and acting heads of local government administration (HLGAs) in all the 33 local government areas (LGAs) and 35 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the pacesetter state to reciprocate the kind gesture of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Ayodele stated this at a special meeting to sensiitize the council officials on the need to adequately engage their staff, make them responsive and responsible to the public, as well as replicate the four-point agenda of Makinde administration at the grassroots, held at the Water Corporation conference room, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The Local Government Service Commission boss admitted that the LGAs and LCDAs might have their unique challenges, he admonished the HLGAs, who he said are the administrative heads of their respective council areas, to think outside the box in order to profer solutions to the myriad of problems facing their respective local governments.
“One of the hallmarks of a good leader who is worth his/her salt is the ability to tackle issues frontally. This trait I can see in my permanent secretary, who is so versatile that he cannot be rubbished in the scheme of things in the state service, yet he was once one of you. The challenges that came the way of the Commission were not allowed to become stumbling blocks, rather, he turned them into stepping stones. This is a trait all of you must imbibe. Problems are not just meant to be solved, but to equally bring the best out of us, ” Ayodele said.
Ayodele further underscored the need for the HLGAs to be up and doing, set good examples for their subordinates and avoid unnecessary altercation between them and their political heads.
“If there’s any infraction under any guise at the local government level, you will be held responsible. You should not hide under any internally generated revenue accruing to the council to engage in any form of profligacy. It is tantamount to financial infraction, which will attract sanction from the Commission,” he addd.
Speaking, the full time Commissioner 1 of the Commission, Alh. Oyesina Oyedeji, enjoined the HGLAs to key into the four-point agenda of the state government and replicate same at the council level.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Akin Funmilayo, told the HLGAs that the essence of the meeting was to sensitize them on the need to be up and doing, report any infraction observed so as not to be culpable, reminding them that absenteeism from work at the local government level is a great indictment on them all.
He promised that the guidelines for operations at the LCDAswould soon be released.
“Let me admonish you at this juncture that you need to buckle up because henceforth, members of the Commission will be paying unscheduled visits to your council areas, and report will be submitted for necessary punitive measures to be meted out to erring and recalcitrant officers, to serve as deterrent to others,” Funmilayo warned.
In their separate contributions, the HLGA of Ibadan North and Ibadan South West LGAs, Mr. Olumuyiwa Olaoye and Alh. Waheed Raji, appreciated the Commission for meeting, which they said was very timely.
While promising to turn a new leaf by taking necessary action in their various council areas, they solicited the assistance of the Commission in giving council officials fair hearing whenever their political heads come to report, for the sake justice, fairness and equity. They also expressed the optimism that the issue of inadequate funding affecting the third tier of government would be looked into.
In his remarks, the Commission’s director of administration and general services, Mr. Adedayo Solaja, appreciated the council administrative heads for their positive response to the Commission’s invitation, and assured them of the Commission’s assistance and support always.
Those in attendance include Mrs Nike Arewa (member); Mr. John Adisa-Oke (member); Alh. Ganiyu Wasiu (Director, Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics); Alh. Jelili Alade (Deputy Director of Administration) and other management staff of the Commission.
