Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has reassured the leadership of the Local Government Service Commission that his administration would continue to provide support for the local government administration in the state in order to ensure effective operations of the local government system for the good of the grassroots.
Governor Oyebanji, who gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Local Government Service Commission led by its Chairman, Chief Samuel Abejide, said a well-resourced workforce would significantly transform local communities and improve service delivery to the grassroots.
Dispelling the notion that local government workers are second-class citizens, the Governor cited numerous initiatives and achievements recorded at various local governments as evidence of their potentials and capacity to transform various communities within their localities.
Stressing the importance of continuous training and professional development to equip workers with the necessary skills to meet the demand of their roles, the Governor assured that his administration remains committed to ensuring that local government become more effective in delivering essential service and fostering development.
While commending the leadership of the local government commission for providing a quality leadership, Oyebanji urged the local government workers to remain dedicated and professional in the discharge of their duties
“I keep telling people that local Government workers are not second class citizen, they are not, I believe that if they are properly resourced and I have said it during campaign that they have the capacity to change the narrative at the local government level and that is what they have been doing since I came on board, the interventions at various local government are quite commendable.
“it is an affirmation of my belief in their capacity to do things rightly and when you have a critical sector like that being a partner in progress with our government, we don’t have a choice other than to support them and we will continue to provide support for the commission and the rank and file at the local government level”, the Governor assured.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commission chairman, Chief Samuel Abejide, who expressed his profound gratitude to the Governor for his unwavering support for the local government administration in the state, said the purpose of the meeting was to thank the Governor for the recent appointment of two local government staff as permanent secretaries and other numerous achievements in the local Government.
He listed the Governor’s achievements in local government including the construction of local government service commission secretariat, approval of restoration of local government training fund, and various welfare packages for the workers, among others.
At the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Folorunso Olabode, Special Adviser Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Commissioners in the Local Government Service Commission, and Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, among others.