Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday urged political officeholders to view public service as a sacred duty, stressing that they were elected or appointed primarily to serve the people.

While calling on top local council officials to demonstrate professionalism and adhere to due process, Aiyedatiwa also admonished them to view themselves as essential partners in governance rather than mere bureaucrats.

The governor stated this during the opening ceremony of a four-day sensitisation training for political office holders and top management staff of local governments in the state, organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with the Local Government Service Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Aiyedatiwa, who stated that his administration is committed to strengthening grassroots governance through accountability, capacity building, and a culture of transparency, emphasised that the workshop was a deliberate intervention to reposition the local government system for quality service delivery.

According to the governor, the local government is the closest tier of government to the people, and one whose effectiveness largely determines the development of any democratic society.

“In recent years, our local governments have been confronted with myriad challenges ranging from poor service delivery to weak accountability frameworks. This workshop is a conscious effort to reverse the trend and equip our leaders with the tools and mindset required to serve with competence and integrity,” Aiyedatiwa stated.

He reiterated his administration’s resolve to institutionalise accountability and fiscal discipline across all tiers of government, saying, “We shall continue to support initiatives that promote transparency, fiscal discipline, and effective monitoring and evaluation.”

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, described the workshop as part of a broader effort to address loopholes in public financial management and enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

On his part, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Office, Effa Okim, noted that the workshop would address critical issues such as abuse of office and other unethical practices within the local government system.

Okim, who assured that the collaboration between the EFCC and the Ondo State Government would be sustained in the interest of good governance, warned that failure to act in line with the principles and lessons shared during the workshop would attract appropriate consequences.

The Chairman of Akure South Local Council, Gbenga Fasua, commended Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to strengthening governance at the grassroots in the state.