The Local Government Service Commission, Ekiti State, on Wednesday kicked off a two-day capacity-building workshop for administrative officers, with a charge to them to abandon obsolete practices and embrace modern administrative techniques, innovation, professionalism, and accountability.
Administrative officers from the 16 local government areas of the state converged on Ado-Ekiti for the training aimed at repositioning the local government service for improved service delivery.
Declaring the workshop open, the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Samuel Abejide, who was represented by the Commissioner in charge of Training and Manpower Development, Mr. Wole Olujobi, described local government administration as “the operational engine” responsible for interpreting government policies and ensuring they translate into tangible results for citizens.
He said the evolving demands of modern governance require public institutions to continually review their approaches, noting that citizens now expect government to be more responsive, transparent, efficient, and accessible.
“Public sector reform is fundamentally about improving the way government systems operate and deliver services to citizens. We can no longer afford delays, slow decision-making, and poor records management. The people deserve better,” he said.
Mr. Abejide stressed the need for a workforce equipped with modern administrative tools and skills to effectively implement public policies.
He urged officers to promote a culture centred on results, professionalism, innovation, teamwork, and accountability.
The chairman further called on resource persons to communicate effectively and use simple language that participants would easily understand.
“Facilitators must come down to the level of officers and employ good communication skills in delivering the training,” he added.
Abejide also charged participants to pay close attention to the sessions, actively engage the resource persons, and take back the knowledge gained to their colleagues in their various offices.
He commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for what he described as “unprecedented support” for the local government service, particularly through developmental projects and regular training as well as capacity-building programmes for staff.
The chairman expressed confidence that the workshop would have a positive impact on the operations of the local government service and improve performance among administrative officers.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Rotimi Akomolede, charged officers to uphold the ethics of the job and take the training very seriously.
“Because we tend to deal with the core of this job, and as officers by extension, we expect you to be well acquainted with the ethics of this job. This seminar will be taken very seriously because you are officers and we expect you to know better,” he said.
Akomolede described punctuality as “key” to the job, and warned that officers must respond to duties even at short notice and serve as examples to other departments.
“Regardless of the time you are notified, even if it’s just six hours’ notice, we expect you to be present. Attendance is very, very key. I will personally take note of it,” the PS stated.
Akomolede noted that part of what would be taught at the seminar would focus on attitude to work and how officers are expected to shape the local government service for the better.
Responding on behalf of other participants, Mr. Akinyemi Ayodeji Timmy appreciated the Commission for organising the programme.
“We want to appreciate you, sir, for the privilege given to us to come together to learn again, because learning is very important and key to the expansion of our responsibilities in our various offices.
“So we want to appreciate the opportunity for organising this programme, and we are glad. We are promising you that for these two days, everything we learn, we assure you that we will make good use of it,” he said.
Oladija Omolara
Local Government Service Commission
Ekiti State
