Oyo LGSC Chairman, Wolekanle Pledges To Engage Retired Perm Secs For Capacity Building

The Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Bashorun Akinwale Solomon Akinwole (Wolekanle), has promised to engage retired Permanent Secretaries to strengthen human capacity building in the Local Government Service.

Bashorun Akinwole made the pledge during a meritorious service celebration held at the Local Government Staff Training School Hall, Local Government House, Secretariat, Ibadan, in honour of four distinguished Permanent Secretaries from the Local Government Sector who retired from the Oyo State Civil/Public Service.

The retirees are Mr. Thomas Oladele Oguntona (Ogbomoso Zone); Dr. Adedapo Olumuyiwa Atoyebi (Ibadan Zone II); Dr. (Mrs.) Kafilat Adefunke Hamzat (Ibarapa Zone); and Alhaji Busari Adekunle Amusat (Oke-Ogun Zone I).

In a statement by the Director of Education and Social Services, Mrs. Funke Foluso Lala, Bashorun Akinwole said retirement is not a full stop, but a new beginning and an open highway of freedom to serve humanity in other capacities as trainers, community leaders, mentors, consultants, elder statesmen and pillars of support to the younger generation.

“We have watched you navigate the complex waters of governance with wisdom, providing sound, fearless and impartial advice to government. You passionately defended the ethics of the civil service, protected your subordinates and upheld the tradition of anonymity, neutrality and permanence for which the service is well known. You stood tall as models of incorruptibility, punctuality, diligence and professionalism. You were not just administrators but also custodians of institutional memories, guardians of policy continuity, and mentors who shaped generations of officers. The Commission will continue to draw from your well of experience. We will give you work to do and we promise to empower you for whatever engagements, especially in training and retraining the workforce,” he said.

He implored serving officers to draw inspiration from the lives of the celebrants, noting that hard work and honesty still pay.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Pastor Adeola Omoyeni Oduola, said the occasion was to celebrate years of dedicated service, sacrifice, professionalism, commitment and invaluable contributions to the development of Oyo State.

According to him, the office of Permanent Secretary demands not only competence, but also integrity, sound judgement, patience, courage and enduring commitment to public service.

He charged the retirees to embrace the blessings that come with freedom, family time, reflection, personal pursuits and service to humanity in other capacities.

Dignitaries who gave goodwill messages on the occasion included the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, who retired from the Commission as a Permanent Secretary, Mr. Akin Funmilayo; Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. (Chief) Akeem Ademola Ige; President of NULGE, Oyo State Chapter, Comrade Ayobami Adeogun; Chairman, Conference of Heads of Local Government Administration in Oyo State, Alhaji Marouf Owolabi; and the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Deacon Taiwo Adewale.

The occasion also had in attendance the Commission’s Board Members, among whom were Alhaji Yussuf Alli, Hon. Taiwo Oke, and Mrs. Nike Arewa; Forum of serving Permanent Secretaries; Forum of retired Permanent Secretaries; Conference of Directors in the Local Government Service; NULGE State Executives; Management and Staff of the Commission, as well as friends and family members of the celebrants.