By Josephine Isaac
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, inaugurated the newly appointed Governor’s Local Government Liaison Officers, with a warning not to compete with their local government chairmen, but rather complement them to serve the people at the grassroots better.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Oba’s Complex Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the governor said as the closest to the grassroots, the GLOs have a duty to work closely with their council bosses by championing the course of development at the local communities and ensure that the people get the dividends of democracy.
He further warned them not to see their appointments as a means of corruptly enriching themselves from the public treasury, noting that as an administration that prides itself in upholding transparency and probity, it would not hesitate to relieve those found wanting of their appointments.
“Let me sound a note of caution to all the appointees. You are to complement your local government chairmen. You are not to compete with them. Let me again sound a note of caution to our officers not to see their appointments as a means of corruptly enriching themselves from the public treasury. As an administration that prides itself in upholding transparency and probity, we would not hesitate to relieve those found wanting of their appointments.
“Your appointments should be seen as a clarion call that demands excellent performance. This is to ensure greater efficiency and service delivery to our people. You are to be apostles of good governance in your respective Local Government Areas. You have been appointed at a time when the people have started getting used to high standard of service delivery and have also started enjoying higher dividends of their hard earned democracy.
“You must ensure that the initiatives of our Administration at encouraging self-employment, placing Ogun State on the global industrial map, and the drive of making Ogun State the investors destination of choice are given priority through positive attitude to visitors and residents alike”, the governor charged.
While calling on them to brace themselves for the tasks ahead, Abiodun urged them to contribute their quota towards the realisation of the ISEYA mantra.
He solicited for the support of the people and maintained that “the new appointees were chosen from the pool of highly qualified indigenes of our dear state taking into consideration variables like fairness, justice, equity and truthfulness”.
“Therefore, I wish to state that people who were not chosen at this moment should not regard this development as a disapproval of their desire to serve. Neither should it place a barrier in their contributions to the continued development of our dear State. There are still a lot of various opportunities to serve our state”, he added.
While reiterating that the appointees are to serve as a feedback mechanism through a two-way communication process between the government and the people, he enjoined them to justify the confidence reposed in them by demonstrating the ability to ride above situations and challenges while also remaining loyal to the cause of service to humanity.
The governor stressed that their performance would be reviewed regularly to ensure that his government, not only maintain, but improve on its level of performance generally.
He assured that his administration would continue to provide the enhancing and conducive environment for a participatory government, where mutual love, trust and cooperation exists.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Semiu Lawal, thanked the governor for the confidence and trust reposed in them, promising that they would work hard to deliver on their mandates.
