The Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Igbekele Akinrinwa, has called on local council officers to uphold discipline, punctuality, and commitment to duty as part of efforts to enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.

The charge came on Tuesday during the graduation ceremony of 178 council officers who successfully completed an intensive eight-week in-service training program at the Local Government Staff Training School in Itaogbolu, Akure North Local Council Area.

The graduating officers, who are transitioning from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 15, underwent rigorous instruction in leadership, administrative communication, general studies, entrepreneurship, agribusiness, skills acquisition, and other professional courses designed to equip them for higher responsibilities.

The training program, which is part of the state government’s broader human capital development strategy, was designed to strengthen the capacity of local government workers to meet the growing demands of public service at the grassroots.

Akinrinwa told the gathering that the state government expected the officers to justify the significant investment made in their training by exhibiting diligence and professionalism in their various local government councils.

He emphasized that the knowledge and skills acquired during the program must translate into tangible improvements in service delivery, warning that the government would not tolerate laxity or complacency among council workers.

The governor’s aide further noted that indiscipline and poor work attitude had continued to hinder optimal performance in some councils, lamenting that such negative tendencies undermine public confidence in local government administration.

He urged the graduating officers to become agents of positive change within their respective councils, challenging them to set new standards of excellence that would inspire their colleagues and restore faith in grassroots governance.

Akinrinwa expressed confidence that the knowledge acquired during the program would enhance efficiency and strengthen governance at the grassroots, adding that the state government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for local government workers to thrive.

He assured the officers that their dedication would not go unnoticed, as the government continued to prioritize the welfare and professional development of its workforce.

Earlier, the pioneer Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Staff Training School, Prince Ayodeji Ayeku, described the training as a testament to the state government’s unwavering commitment to building the capacity of local government workers for improved service delivery.

“We want to appreciate the state government, under the able leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for investing heavily in capacity building and human capital development to improve public service delivery at the local government,” Ayeku said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Bayo Ilawole, reminded the officers that promotion to Grade Level 15 came with greater responsibility, higher expectations, and increased accountability.

He urged them to see their advancement as an opportunity to provide exemplary leadership and contribute meaningfully to the development of the local government service, stressing that their performance would be closely monitored.

Also speaking, the Ogbolu of Itaogbolu, Oba Idowu Faborode, commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the upgrading and massive investment in infrastructure at the Ondo State Local Government Staff Training School.

The monarch stated that life had fully returned to the institution since the granting of self-accounting status by Governor Aiyedatiwa, adding that the vision of the Itaogbolu community to host the first full-fledged local government university in Nigeria was gradually becoming a reality.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of leadership and professional awards to outstanding participants in recognition of their dedication and exceptional performance during the training.

Some of the participants, while expressing their appreciation to the state government, said that the program had broadened their knowledge in leadership, communication, and other essential skills required for effective public service, describing the experience as transformative and invaluable.