Local government employees in Oyo State have been urged to be punctual at their duty posts and show greater commitment to service by diligently discharging their responsibilities in strict compliance with civil service rules.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Bashorun Akinwale Solomon Akinwole, gave the charge during separate meetings with council staff in the course of the ongoing staff verification exercise across local government areas in the state.
Akinwole disclosed that the Commission had been inundated with complaints from public-spirited individuals about the high rate of absenteeism and cases of staff who had absconded from duty. He said these reports informed the Commission’s decision to embark on the verification exercise.
“Our visit is part of our statutory responsibilities to ensure discipline, assess compliance with service rules, evaluate the working atmosphere, and authenticate the number of staff on the payroll of councils across the state,” he explained.
The LGSC Chairman stressed that the staff audit was not aimed at witch-hunting but designed to aid effective planning, manpower development, and improved service delivery. He, however, expressed dismay at the lackadaisical attitude of some local government workers, stressing the urgent need for attitudinal change to justify their monthly salaries.
Earlier, in meetings with political functionaries and principal officers before the commencement of the exercise, Akinwole reiterated the need for excellent teamwork and unity of purpose, which he said would ensure smooth administration and fast-track development across council areas.
He further charged top career officers to play their roles effectively by offering sound professional advice to council chairmen to ensure compliance with administrative procedures in the implementation of programmes and projects. He added that clear communication and supervision should be maintained with subordinates to discourage disregard for service rules and due process.
Responding to issues raised during the interactive sessions, the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale, announced an upward review of training allowances for participants attending Commission-sponsored workshops. He explained that the revised allowance would henceforth be determined by the distance of each participant’s local government from the training centre.
While commending Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for prioritising manpower development and workers’ welfare, Adewale noted that the huge resources committed to training by the government underscored its commitment to capacity building. He, however, warned that deliberate absenteeism from training workshops would not be tolerated and would be treated as an infraction.
He also urged council staff to embrace the Commission’s core values of professionalism, accountability, commitment, teamwork, ethical conduct, and zero tolerance for corruption.
The verification exercise, which commenced a week ago, has so far been conducted in 17 local governments. The exercise is being led by the LGSC Chairman, Bashorun Akinwale Solomon Akinwole, alongside other board members including Alhaji Yusuf Ali, Barr. Akeem Taiwo Oke, Mrs. Christiana Nike Arewa, the Permanent Secretary, Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale, zonal Vice permanent secretaries and other principal officers of the Commission.
