Osun Govt Organises Training For New LG Parliamentarians, Management Staff For Effective Service Delivery

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Government of Osun State on Thursday organised a two -day training for the newly elected councillors for the sole purpose of taking them into the tenets of parliamentary system in their respective local government areas.

The  workshop, which   was organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was basically conceived  to provide enabling environment and necessary democratic ingredients of sustaining the newly introduced system.

Explaining the underlying factor of the parliamentary system of government,  and the essence of its introduction in the state, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun State, Dr. Ajibola Basiru said it was tailored towards the quest of bringing government more nearer to the people.

Speaking on the topic e “Parliamentary System – An Overview of the Guidelines for Administration of the Local Government said that Aregbesola’s administration has demonstrated commitment to the growth and development of the local government system in the state.

He added that the decision was to reposition the third tier of government for effective service delivery to the people at the grassroots.

“The introduction of the parliamentary system of government is aimed at galvanizing the local government system in the state and reposition the councils for effective service delivery.

“It is therefore imperative to train the newly elected councillors and management staff of the councils on the nature and workings of the parliamentary system.

“In order to minimize the effects of the incipient strains and stresses associated with the introduction of a novel system, the State Government of Osun has developed a standard guideline for the administration of local government.

“Transfer of political power to local areas by involving the inhabitants in the provision of the basic needs in their respective community”, he said.

The Attorney General took time to explain the functions and responsibilities of the different arms and functionaries of government at the local level.

Echoing a similar view, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bar Kolapo Alimi urged the councillors to see their new position as a call to service.

Alimi who commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for setting the pace said the parliamentary system of government introduced by the governor is timely and an initiative worth of emulation.

He noted that the said system is affordable and guides against waste.

Declaring the seminar open, the peaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Najeem Salaam charged the newly elected councillors be responsible and accountable in  their various councils.

Salaam stressed the need for councillors to obey the rule and regulation of the party because party has supreme power over their  various offices and every councilors should see one another as colleagues in the development of the state.

The speaker recalled that before the last election was conducted, some individuals picked bones with the government on the issue of parliamentary; even we have an individual who approached a court on the matter.

He further explained that “Though, circumstances surrounding the litigation suggested that it was designed to truncate the already scheduled Local Government election, to us at the state parliament the litigation and some decisions that accompanied it, is a welcome development, because it expands the jurisprudence.

“What matters is, by and large, reason prevailed and democracy won.

He stressed further that the highest ranking PDP office holder in the country in person of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has lent his voice in favour of the parliamentary system when he says, “ that the parliamentary system of government will engender more robust debates which always brings out the best in a democracy.

Najeem charged  the youth among the councilors to prove the ability in them and borrow ideas from elders to improve their local council.