The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, has declared open a four-day training seminar for local government councillors across the state.
This is made known in statement issued to newsmen by Oba Azeez, the Press Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.
The event, held at the Silver Gate Hotel in Ilorin, was organized by the Kwara State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Community Development in collaboration with FERHAT CONSULT LTD.
Declaring the seminar open on behalf of the Speaker, the House Leader, Hon. Oba Magaji, expressed optimism that the training would strengthen the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of local government.
He noted that a similar seminar previously organized at the state level for House of Assembly members had significantly improved their legislative functions and fostered better collaboration with the executive.
The Speaker commended the stakeholders for organizing the workshop, emphasizing its importance in helping councillors understand their roles and oversight functions in the administration of local government.
In his address, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Community Development, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Bata, highlighted that a similar seminar had earlier been conducted for the executive arm of local government.
He stressed the need for collective efforts in harnessing resources and sustaining public confidence in the local government system.
"Over the last few years, local government administration in the state has witnessed significant development in both governance and service delivery. Local governments are now able to initiate and implement capital projects beyond mere payment of salaries," the commissioner said.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the seminar for their personal and professional development.
Speaking on behalf of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, the Executive Chairman of Kaima Local Government Council, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, expressed gratitude to the organizers and encouraged participants to leverage the seminar to enhance their service delivery to constituents.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission and Local Government Pension Board, Hon. Umar Danladi Shero, commended the state government for allowing local government councils to operate independently.
He noted that staff morale had improved through timely salary payments, regular promotions, and financial incentives.
The lead consultant, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, thanked stakeholders for the opportunity to contribute to local government development.
He explained that the seminar would be conducted in two batches, with eight local governments participating in the first session, while the remaining eight would be trained in the following week.
Musa expressed confidence in the quality of resource persons available for the program, assuring councillors of valuable insights to be gained.
.jpeg)