Oyo State Commissioner Tasks Council Chairmen on People-Oriented Governance

Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola, met with the recently sworn-in chairmen of the 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. The meeting, held at the Ministry on Wednesday, focused on emphasizing good conduct and committed service delivery.

Olayiwola highlighted Governor Seyi Makinde’s dedication to a people-oriented government over the past five years and urged the chairmen to emulate this approach by delivering the dividends of democracy to their councils. He remarked, “We thank God for yet another opportunity to swear in a new set of 33 local government chairmen in Oyo State. You will recall that immediately after the governor assumed office; he conducted an election into the local government areas in the state and promptly swore them in at that time.”

The commissioner noted the significance of conducting two elections during Makinde’s administration, an unprecedented achievement in the state’s history. He assured that before the end of the current administration, a third set of chairmen would be sworn in.

Addressing the chairmen, Olayiwola said, “We have come to welcome you, to give you tips, and orient you on how to govern your local government areas. We have come to share our own experiences with you and make sure we put you on the right track before you move. I believe that with what we have done here, we are sure you would do your best to see to the development of your various LGAs.”

Fielding questions from newsmen, the commissioner expressed confidence in the chairmen’s ability to deliver on their responsibilities. He pointed out that 12 of the newly elected chairmen were re-elected, while 21 were new to the role. “Those who returned will share their experiences with their colleagues that are just coming in. And with the tips we have given them today, I believe the sky will be the limit for the developmental activities we will witness in this state during this tenure,” Olayiwola stated. He also announced plans for an induction training to further prepare the chairmen for their duties.

Hon. Sikiru Sanda, Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, thanked Governor Makinde for the opportunity given to the newly-elected chairmen. He praised the inaugural meeting’s focus on conduct and assured the residents of Oyo State of enhanced service delivery. “Today is our inaugural meeting and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters has charged us on the issue of conduct. I see this as a speedy commencement of the new administration as far as local government is concerned,” Sanda said.

Sanda emphasized the competence and readiness of the new chairmen, noting that many bring diverse experiences from public administration, commerce, and other fields. He assured that the chairmen are well-prepared to deliver on their mandates. “We want to assure the good people of Oyo State to expect bigger dividends of democracy from all the local government chairmen. They are prepared for the job and would perform excellently well beyond the people’s expectations,” he added.

The meeting concluded with an assurance of continuous training and support for the chairmen to enhance their capacity to serve their communities effectively.