I’m not against LG chairmen carrying out their constitutional duties — Makinde

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Wednesday in Ibadan said he was not against elected representatives of the people at the local government level carrying out their constitutional duties.

Makinde, during the inauguration of a newly-built Local Government House and Staff Training School within the State Secretariat at Agodi, said what he was against was for anyone to create confusion.

“What I am against is for anyone to try to create a constitutional la cuna, which is capable of turning one arm of government against the other,” he said.

“In a country where there is trust deficit between the leaders and the people, some people will always take advantage of such a situation to fan the flame of disunity or choose to push on unintended narratives and perception,” the governor added.

He said his administration would continue to work and coordinate with the local governments so that the vision of his administration could also be sold to their administrators.

“Both the state government and local government councils can achieve more if there’s synergy,” Makinde pointed out.

He disclosed that his government had collaborated with local governments to upgrade 209 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and also equipped 264 PHCs.

“My administration has completed about 60 model schools, constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms,” Makinde stated.

He, however, said there were more to be done as his government would continue to support local governments in the state.

The governor promised to continue seeking innovative ways to collaborate with local government administrators for the benefit of the people of the state.

Speaking on the inauguration of the new building, Makinde said the structure would provide a more conducive environment for the state’s local government workers and thus enhance their productivity.

He promised that his administration would work on renovating some of the dilapidated buildings within the State Secretariat as much as it could before the end of his tenure.

The governor, during the event, announced an approval for the conversion of all ad hoc workers across local government areas in the state into permanent staff status.

He directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Ademola Ojo, to follow due process within four weeks and interview affected ad hoc staff for permanent employment.

Speaking also at the event, the National President of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr Ambali Adetunji, commended Gov. Makinde for giving priority to workers’ welfare in the state.

Adetunji who was represented by the South-West Vice Chairman of NULGE, Mr Abimbola Babalola, noted that the newly-built structure would boost the morale of staff of local governments.

He added that the training school would also enhance the building of capacity of local government workers.