Ondo Assembly Trains Local Government Officials on Effective Grassroots Governance
By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Ondo State House of Assembly has commenced a three-day induction and capacity development workshop for Local Government Councillors, Clerks, and Deputy Clerks across the state.The workshop, which runs from November 4th to 6th in Akure, is themed “Strengthening Local Governance for Effective Service Delivery and Grassroots Development.”
According to the organisers, the training aims to enhance participants’ understanding of their legislative and administrative roles, strengthen their capacity for efficient service delivery, and deepen their appreciation of parliamentary procedures within local government legislative councils. It also seeks to promote transparency, accountability, participatory governance, and effective budgeting, planning, and project implementation at the grassroots level.
Declaring the workshop open, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladij described local governments as the closest tier of government to the people and therefore crucial to sustainable development at the grassroots.
“We are gathered here to strengthen the foundation of our local governance.As leaders closer to the people, you play a vital role in driving development, providing essential services, and addressing community needs,” he stated.
The Speaker emphasized that the capacity-building programme was an investment in the state’s collective ability to deliver essential services effectively, despite challenges such as limited resources, competing community demands, and the need for greater transparency.
He appreciated the the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the United Nations Habitat and Water Agency (UNHWA), and the Governor of Ondo State for their support and collaboration in organizing the workshop.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to improve governance and service delivery in their various local councils.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon Victor Japhet, said the workshop was designed to familiarize newly elected officials and administrative staff with the essentials of local governance, enabling them to perform optimally.
“Local governments are the closest to the people, and their effectiveness is crucial to community development. This workshop will equip councillors, clerks, and deputy clerks with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver the dividends of democracy to the grassroots,” Japhet noted.
He further expressed appreciation to resource persons, facilitators, and partners, particularly for their technical support, and commended the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly for its unwavering commitment to grassroots development.
The three-day event features technical sessions, interactive discussions, and experience-sharing among participants and experts on governance, accountability, and sustainable local development.
Resource persons trained the participants on topics including The Nigerian Local Government System: Structure, Power and Challenges, Mastering the Art of Public Speaking for Local Government Officials, and The Imperatives of Financial Autonomy and Resource Management in Local Government, among others.
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