Governor of Oyo State, ?Seyi Makinde, has approved the conversion of ad-hoc staff in the service of the 33 local government councils in the state to permanent staff.

The governor said that the decision was taken to bridge the gap in the workforce at the local government level, noting that the due process for the employment must be followed effectively and perfected within four weeks.

Governor Makinde disclosed this at the official commissioning of the newly-built Local Government House and Staff Training School, held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

He assured that his administration would continue to seek innovative ways to support and collaborate with local government authorities for the benefits of the citizens in order to actualise his vision for the state.

He said, ?We will continue to work with the local government so that our vision at the state level can also be sold to the local government administrators. When there is synergy, we can achieve more.?

The governor added that when he came on board in 2019, he met a local government system that owed salaries, pensions and gratuities.

He said: ?For primary school teachers, their leave bonuses were last paid in 2017. The primary schools, PHCs and other things were in a bad shape. But we have paid the primary school teachers their leave bonus for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

?So, we had to figure out a way of reducing this deficit and we won?t play games with anybody because they are our own people. We insisted that first line items must be drawn against the LG account. It was a home-grown way of ensuring that outstanding pension and gratuities are paid. We have paid backlogs of over N18 billion in pension and we have also paid over N15 billion gratuities to retirees.?

Makinde said his administration has collaborated with the Local Government Councils to upgrade 209 PHCs, equip 264 PHCs and complete about 60 model schools. He added that his administration had, in conjunction with local government authorities, constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms through the Oyo State SUBEB intervention project.

Makinde said, ?We commissioned the first set of about 40km of roads in Ibadan in July and we have outstanding of about 60km to go in this first set. When we leave Ibadan, we will go to other zones. So, rest assured we will continue to seek innovative ways to collaborate with the local government administration to the benefit of our people.?

According to the governor, the newly-built complex will provide a conducive environment for the local government staff and also enhance their productivity.

The governor added that facilities within the State Secretariat would be renovated and transformed before the expiration of his administration in 2027.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, described the new complex as a monumental achievement, appreciating Governor Makinde for his insightful leadership in guiding the Local Government Service Commission and the Local Government Pension Board.

He commended the governor for adding values and bringing new things to local government service and Oyo State in general.

In their separate goodwill messages, the National President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Ambali Olatunji, represented by the Vice-President of NULGE, South-West Caucus, Comrade Babalola Abimbola, chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Honourable Akeem Ige and chairman of the Oyo State Local Governments chairmen, Honourable Sikiru Sanda, commended Governor Makinde for prioritising the welfare of local government staff.

The project consultant, Mr Olalekan Akingbade, who spoke on behalf of the University of Ibadan Ventures, described the newly-commissioned LG House as a masterpiece with state-of-the-art equipment.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Honourable Ademola Ojo, said the edifices are the first in the history of Oyo State and Nigeria, adding that Governor Makinde's administration has implemented unprecedented worker-friendly policies in the state.

Ojo urged the staff to imbibe good maintenance culture of the facilities.

Giving the vote of thanks, the chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Dr Remi Ayodele, enjoined residents of Oyo State to support the governor with more prayers so that he can deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

The event had in attendance the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) and a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former deputy governors, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi; Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi and Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo

Also in attendance were the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin and other members of the House; the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima and other top judicial officers; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni (mni) and other government functionaries.

Others were chairman and co-chairman, Oyo State Elders' Council, Dr Saka Balogun and Elder Wole Oyelese; Chairman, Advisory Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, Mrs Elizabeth Akinyele; South-West PDP Woman Leader, Alhaja Bosede Adedibu; Engr. Femi Babalola; Service Commanders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and labour union leaders, among others.

?PHOTO: From left, Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Ademola Ojo; Governor Seyi Makinde; PDP National Deputy Chairman (South), Hon Taofeek Arapaja; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Ogundoyin and Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, during the commissioning of the Local Government House and Staff Training School, at the Secretariat, Ibadan. PHOTO: Oyo Gov's Media Unit.

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