The Ogun State Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, has underscored the need for continuous capacity building and innovation in the Civil Service, warning that an untrained workforce constitutes a liability to governance and sustainable development.
Onasanya made the assertion during the opening of a three-day retreat organised for staff of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Ijebu-Ode. The retreat, themed “Enhancing Productivity through Effective Service Delivery in the Civil Service,” was designed to reposition public servants for improved efficiency and better service delivery.
He described the programme as a strategic initiative aimed at rejuvenating the workforce and equipping officers with the necessary skills to meet the demands of modern governance.
According to the Head of Service, the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun remains committed to manpower development through sustained investment in workshops, seminars and retreats tailored towards strengthening professionalism and competence in the public sector.
He stressed that Ministries, Departments and Agencies must continually adopt modern administrative practices and improve internal processes to remain efficient, responsive and relevant in an evolving governance environment.
Onasanya further urged civil servants to rise above routine performance by embracing professionalism, prudent resource management and innovative problem-solving approaches, noting that public confidence could only be sustained through quality and efficient service delivery.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, said the retreat was organised to assess the Ministry’s achievements, address existing challenges and reposition workers for greater efficiency.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Rotimiolu Akinlesi, the Commissioner stated that staff welfare remained a top priority, stressing that the success of any institution largely depends on the motivation and wellbeing of its workforce.
Hamzat added that the retreat would provide an avenue for officers across different cadres to interact, exchange ideas and acquire practical knowledge capable of enhancing professionalism and sustaining the Ministry’s standard of excellence.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Elese of Ilese, Oluremi Obayomi, commended the Ministry for sustaining its culture of staff development and capacity building, describing the initiative as vital to improving productivity and efficiency in the Civil Service.
The monarch urged workers to abandon outdated bureaucratic practices and embrace a more responsive, citizen-centred and merit-driven approach to governance. He also encouraged participants to complement government-sponsored training with personal development initiatives.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Olufisan Osiyale, described the Civil Service as the engine room of government and a critical driver of national development.
Osiyale charged civil servants to remain self-motivated, committed to excellence and aligned with the developmental agenda of the present administration, particularly Governor Abiodun’s ISEYA mantra. He noted that workers would increasingly be evaluated based on their contributions to effective grassroots service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of participants, Kehinde Francis pledged that workers would continue to uphold integrity, diligence, patriotism and selfless service in the discharge of their duties.
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