The Lagos State Local Government Service Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to building a more transparent, accountable, and technology-driven local government system that will enhance service delivery and deepen public trust at the grassroots level.
This resolution was part of the key outcomes of the two-day Strategic Engagement Session for Council Chairmen and Key Officers in the Unified Local Government Service, held recently at Novatel Hotel, Lekki.
The high-level engagement was attended by Council Chairmen, Council Managers, Council Treasurers and other key officers from across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LGs/LCDAs) in the State to deliberate on strategies for strengthening grassroots governance, financial accountability, and sustainable development.
In his address at the engagement session, uformer Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between political leaders and career technocrats in driving service delivery and governance outcomes.
He highlighted the importance of adhering to financial regulations, ethical standards, and public accountability mechanisms in all council operations.
Pedro advocated the development of a comprehensive ICT policy for LGs and LCDAs, focusing on public-private partnerships and digital citizen engagement to foster transparency, efficiency, and participatory governance.
The former deputy governor called on the participants to embrace collective resolve to strengthen accountability, embrace innovation, and uphold the principles of good governance in all local government operations across Lagos State.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Administration, Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde Okanlawon, urged councils to embrace ICT-driven systems for enhanced operational efficiency.
He also called for mandatory community consultations before the implementation of local projects, stressing that governance must reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.
Hon. Okanlawon further identified the institutionalization of succession planning, talent identification, and leadership mentoring as vital tools for continuity and institutional memory within the unified service.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Kamal Bayewu, also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building a more dynamic, transparent, and future-ready local government system.
Hon. Bayewu commended the visionary leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, noting that the THEMES+ Agenda has laid a strong foundation for inclusive development across all LGAs and LCDAs in the State.
He described the local government as the most accessible tier of government to the people, emphasizing the need for councils to continually evolve and meet citizens’ changing needs through technology, accountability, and inclusive governance.
He stressed that for the Local Government Service to remain relevant and impactful, it must go beyond routine administration to embrace innovative governance practices that foster trust and improve service delivery.
According to him, the engagement session offers a platform for peer learning, experience sharing, and critical evaluation of existing policies and leadership structures, with the goal of identifying actionable strategies for improvement.
Hon. Bayewu urged participants to actively contribute ideas that would enhance grassroots administration and improve the overall efficiency of the system.
The Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Abosede George, reviewed the Commission’s ongoing reforms in career development, human resource processes, and service delivery models, emphasizing the importance of technology-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration.
She noted that the Commission’s current reform agenda is geared towards building a more efficient, disciplined, and citizen-oriented workforce across the 57 councils.
Mrs. George also presented the scorecard of the Commission, highlighting key achievements in promotion exercises, conversions, and capacity development programmes, while underscoring the need to strengthen administrative discipline, documentation integrity, and compliance monitoring.
She stressed that transparency and accountability must remain non-negotiable principles in all council transactions, urging Council Managers and Treasurers to lead by example and foster teamwork and professional ethics that will reposition the local government system as a credible driver of development in Lagos State.
The State Accountant-General, Dr. Abiodun Mustapha, expounded on internal control mechanisms and advocated stronger synergy among Chairmen, Treasurers, and Heads of Departments to ensure fiscal discipline and proper utilization of public funds.
Similarly, the Auditor-General for Local Governments, Mr. Femi Ogunlana, emphasized the need to strengthen internal audit systems across councils to promote transparency, prevent financial infractions, and uphold fiscal accountability.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Local Government Establishments and Training, Mrs. Bibilomo Olushekun, in her remarks, presented her office’s scorecard on staff training initiatives, loan board deductions, and merit-based appointments of Council Managers and Heads of Administration/Human Resources Officers (HROs).
She also appealed for improved remittance of statutory dues by councils to sustain ongoing training and capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing the competence and productivity of the local government workforce.