Capacity building key to civil service efficiency, says Ogun HoS

The Ogun State Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, has emphasised capacity building as critical to driving efficiency, productivity, high performance, and excellence in the civil service.

Onasanya stated this on Sunday while declaring open the three-day 2026 Staff Retreat themed “Enhancing Productivity through Effective Service Delivery in the Civil Service,” organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for its staff at Rolak Hotel and Suites, Ijebu-Ode.

He said the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration remains committed to manpower development across the civil service, anchored on the belief that a well-trained workforce is more productive and efficient.

Onasanya said, “This commitment is anchored on the conviction that a well-trained workforce will invariably become a more productive and efficient workforce.

“Government has, therefore, continued to invest significantly in various training programmes, workshops, seminars and retreats designed to improve the competence and productivity of public servants.

“This retreat is complementary to that broader vision and should be seen as another deliberate effort by government to strengthen institutional effectiveness and service delivery.”

He explained that efficiency in the civil service goes beyond speed or routine duties, but includes prudent resource management, professionalism, innovation, teamwork, accountability, and strict adherence to ethics.

“As public servants, we must constantly remind ourselves that our actions and decisions directly affect the confidence reposed in government by the people,” he said.

Onasanya commended the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for sustaining periodic retreats, describing them as strategic platforms for staff development and improved performance.

He urged participants to approach the retreat with openness and commitment to learning, noting that it provides an opportunity to adopt best practices and unlearn unproductive habits.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, represented by Permanent Secretary, Dr Rotimiolu Akinlesi, said the retreat was necessary for reflection on achievements and repositioning for greater results.

Hamzat said, “It behoves on any responsible organisation the duty of reflecting on its achievements while also repositioning itself for greater accomplishments in years ahead, hence the reason the three-day workshop was organised.

“I must mention that this retreat is designed to bring us together under the same roof, not minding any status. It serves as a leveler for individual role appreciation and value addition assessment, which suggests the importance of everyone as key players in the overall attainments of the Ministry.”

The Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Olufisan Osiyale, said the retreat would strengthen capacity, collaboration, and institutional performance while promoting reforms in the civil service.

The Elese of Ilese-Ijebu, Oba Oluremi Obayomi, commended the state government and the Head of Service for sustained staff development programmes, noting that merit-based selection for advancement has improved competence, innovation, and results in the civil service.