In an effort to ensure transparency and accountability in grassroots governance, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Monday flagged off a capacity building workshop for local council officials in the state .
The governor, who tasked the local council officials on transparency and accountability, said his administration is committed to strengthening grassroots governance across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of a four-day sensitisation training for political office holders and top management staff of local governments in the state, Governor Aiyedatiwa stated that the workshop was not a jamboree, but a deliberate intervention by his administration to reposition the local government system for quality service delivery.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the event, which held at the Dome International Culture and Event Centre, Akure, was organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with the Local Government Service Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He said the local government is the closest tier of government to the people, and its effectiveness greatly determined the development of any democratic society.
Aiyedatiwa said: “In recent years, our local governments have been confronted with myriad challenges ranging from poor service delivery to weak accountability frameworks. This workshop is a conscious effort to reverse the trend and equip our leaders with the tools and mindset required to serve with competence and integrity.”
Charging political officeholders in the state to see public service as a sacred duty, the governor reminded them that they were elected or appointed to serve the people.
He, therefore, tasked top local government officials at the workshop to demonstrate professionalism, adhere to due process, and view themselves as essential partners in governance rather than mere bureaucrats.
Governor Aiyedatiwa declared that his administration has resolved to institutionalise accountability and fiscal discipline across all arms of government in the state.
“We shall continue to support initiatives that promote transparency, fiscal discipline, and effective monitoring and evaluation,” the governor said.
Speaking on the workshop, the governor explained that the training was designed to enhance participants’ grasp of core governance values, including transparency, accountability, the rule of law, and citizen engagement.
The governor appreciated Economic and Financial Commission(EFCC) and other partner institutions, including the ICPC and the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission (OSPFACC), for supporting the workshop,
He urged the participants to take seriously every session of the training for them to apply them in their operations, saying “You are stewards of public trust. The people look up to you for leadership and results. You must not disappoint them.”
In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, said the workshop was a strategic move to rebuild the integrity of the local government system.
He explained that the training was part of broader efforts to address loopholes in public financial management and to enhance service delivery at the grassroots.
The Acting Zonal Director of the Benin Zonal Office of EFCC, Effa Okim, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.
He noted that the workshop would address critical issues such as abuse of office and other unethical practices within the local government system. Okim assured that the collaboration between the EFCC and the Ondo State Government would be sustained in the interest of good governance.
Okim warned that failure to act in line with the principles and lessons shared during the workshop would attract appropriate consequences.
The Secretary of the Anti-Graft Commission, Prof. Adewole Adeyeye, urged participants to make the most of the workshop, describing it as a rare opportunity to gain practical insights into ethical governance and financial discipline.
The Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Gbenga Fasua, appreciated the governor for his commitment to strengthening local governance in the state.
Present at the event are the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, Head of Service, Bayo Philip, Deputy Chief Whip of the Ondo State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on LGs, Hon. Japhet Victor Oluwatoyin, and local government chairmen, among other government functionaries.
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Source: Independent.ng | Read More
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