The Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) has concluded its annual working visits to the 57 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.
The visit was part of the oversight and supervisory functions of the Commission over the Council Areas.
The purpose of the visits, according to Team Leader and Chairman of LGSC, Hon. Kamal Bayewu, was to establish a forum for interactions between the Councils and the Commission to foster positive working relationships, mutual understanding over staff welfare, and general administration, among other things.
According to him, key topics that came up frequently during the visits included staff deployment policy, employee health and well-being, embracing ICT for effective service delivery, developing each Council’s tourism potential, training junior staff to prevent stagnation, and celebrating staff who were leaving the service after years of meritorious service.
He said that the Team emphasized the value of having a healthy workforce and suggested that in order to achieve the desired productivity at the local government level, proper attention should be paid to the health and well-being of the personnel at the Local Government Level.
In his words, “In line with the dictates of the Greater Lagos initiative and the THEMES Plus Agenda of the State Government particularly in making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Staff of the Local Governments were enjoined by the Commission to embrace IT knowledge in their operations to be at par with their colleagues using global best practices”.
“Part of the issues also discussed during the visits was the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Councils are encouraged to look inward and develop the tourism potential in their respective Councils. This charge was particularly directed at the newly redesignated Officers in the Tourism Cadre recently deployed to all the Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas”, he added.
He stated further that the Commission intends to give necessary assistance to Tourism Officers to ensure they are successful in developing and harnessing the various potentials of their respective Council Areas towards boosting their IGRs.
Bayewu said that all the local Councils were directed to always celebrate exiting staff during Statutory Retirements to show appreciation and also serve as motivation to serving officers during their Last Day in office ceremonies.
Many of the Council Chairmen expressed deep appreciation to the Commission’s Leadership and Management Team for the congenial atmosphere created by the visits and that it was highly encouraging that the Commission was interested in staff welfare and the smooth running of the Councils.
The Permanent Secretary of LGSC, Mr. Akinbode Obadina further assured that the Commission was ready to listen, partner and assist the Councils in whatever form to ensure improved performances at the Local Government levels.
