Heads of Local Government Administration (HLAs) in local government areas in Oyo State have started receiving a consolidated salary scale, which allows them to receive the same salary in their respective status as HLAs as pension after retirement.
The state, therefore, charged its workers, especially Heads of Local Government Administration (HLAs) in local government areas, to redouble their efforts and work round the clock.
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun and the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Bunmi Babalola, made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Service Commission, Akin Akinfunmilayo, alongside Heads of Local Government Administration and Directors of Education and Social Services, attended the parley.
Akinfunmilayo said the gesture of the present administration was unprecedented as no government before the Makinde-led administration had ever done such for the local government workers.
“The Heads of Local Government Administration (HLAs) are now on a consolidated salary scale as approved recently by the governor, Seyi Makinde, this means that after retirement, the individual HLA will continue to collect the same salary he or she collected last when in active service.
“It is unprecedented; it has never happened in the history of local government service in Oyo State. All we have benefitted from this administration apart from the consolidated salary are unprecedented. Look at the new Local Government Service Commission’s building that will soon be completed, we have been tenants in another building that belongs to another ministry for over 40 years. He has done so many other things which time may not allow us to be reeling out here, but we have to show our appreciation.”
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, who convened the meeting, said the essence of the gathering was to integrate the machinery of the local government system to project the activities, policies and programmes of the present administration in the state.
He emphasised the need to collaborate with stakeholders at the grassroots towards the 2022 Omituntun Cultural Festival, where he said, the monumental achievements of the Seyi Makinde government would be beamed to the people.
He added that projects embarked upon by the local government administrations would also be included in the communication of developmental achievements of the state government.
He said: “This meeting is called to integrate the communication of government activities, programmes and policies to the grassroots, we are using this medium to also charge our people at the local government system to inculcate major stakeholders, opinion molders and other players to key into the preparation for the success of the 2022 Omituntun Cultural Festival.
“It is one thing to perform, it is another thing to communicate performance to the grassroots. We will use these platforms to project major tourism potential in the state.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Bunmi Babalola, called on the Heads of Local Government Administration and Directors of Education and Social Services to work efficiently to achieve the projection of the core strength of development notable in the developmental projects in their various areas.
