The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, has stressed the importance of continuous training and innovation in the Civil Service, describing an untrained workforce as a liability to governance and disruption to sustainable development.

Onasanya stated this during the opening of a three-day retreat, themed; ‘Enhancing Productivity through Effective Service Delivery in the Civil Service’, organised for staff of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs at Ijebu-Ode.

The Head of Service described the programme as a strategic initiative, aimed at rejuvenating and repositioning civil servants for improved performance and effective service delivery.

He noted that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun remained committed to manpower development through sustained investment in workshops, seminars and retreats, designed to strengthen the competence and professionalism of public servants.

According to him, Ministries, Departments and Agencies must continually embrace modern administrative practices and improve internal processes in order to remain efficient, responsive and relevant in a rapidly evolving governance environment.

Onasanya urged workers to move beyond routine performance by embracing professionalism, prudent resource management and innovation in problem-solving, stressing that public trust can only be sustained through quality and efficient service delivery.

In his welcome address, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, said the retreat was organised to enable the Ministry assess its achievements, address existing challenges and reposition staff for greater efficiency.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi, the Commissioner noted that staff welfare remained a top priority because the success of any institution depended largely on how motivated and the well-being of its workforce.

Hamzat explained that the retreat would provide an opportunity for officers across different cadres to interact, exchange ideas and gain practical knowledge capable of enhancing professionalism and sustaining the Ministry’s standard of excellence.

In his goodwill message, the Elese of Ilese, Oba Oluremi Obayomi, commended the Ministry for sustaining its culture of staff development and capacity building, describing the initiative as critical to improving productivity and efficiency within the Civil Service.

The monarch urged workers to move away from outdated bureaucratic practices and embrace a more responsive, citizen-centred and merit-driven approach to governance, while encouraging participants to complement government-sponsored training with personal development.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Engr. Olufisan Osiyale, described the Civil Service as the engine room of government and a key driver of national development, urging civil servants to remain self-motivated, committed to excellence and aligned with the developmental agenda of the present administration, particularly Governor Abiodun’s ISEYA mantra, noting that workers would increasingly be assessed based on their contribution to effective grassroots service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Kehinde Francis, pledged that workers would continue to uphold integrity, diligence, patriotism and selfless service in the discharge of their duties.