By Gbenga Ojikutu
Local Government staff still in active service have been charged to be diligent and outstanding to attract commendations while in service and after retirement.
The Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Titilayo Toba-Ojo gave the charge at the signing out/pen down and retirement ceremony organised for the retiring Executive Secretary /Zonal Inspector(ES/ZI) Alhaji Ganiyu Bello.
Mrs Toba-Ojo, while addressing participants at the programme, congratulated the retiring ES on his successful exit from the service after 35 years of meritorious service, describing him as a man of the people with the various good testimonies being said about him.
She urged every worker to be more hardworking and dedicated to justify the confidence reposed in them by the government.
The PS stressed that Mr. Bello is an amiable person being referred to as ‘Omoluabi’ ever since she has met him in 2005.
He described him as a proud son of Erijiyan worthy of befitting awards as an embodiment of humility and hard work.
She noted that it was a remarkable day in LG service ,wishing him long life and good health to reap the fruits of his labour.
In his response, PS PTAD, Mr Foluso Akinwumi described the celebrant as a good colleague worthy of emulation.
In his sermon, Prof. Suleiman Kamaldeen from Ekiti State University Ado picked his text from the Holy Quran that the best of any human being was to have good records in one’s lifetime.
He advised that the retiring ES should keep doing well and not to relent even after the service as good name is the best and should also keep assisting people as Allah rewards everyone accordingly.
Also in his Goodwill message, the NULGE President Comrade Oluseyi Olatunde who described Mr Bello as a unionist having contested together in 2013, said the retiring officer is a fantastic and compassionate person who he can never forget in life.
Alhaji Ganiyu Bello in his response, lauded the government for giving him the enablement to serve meritoriously for 35yrs while appreciating members of staff for their love and support.
He encouraged them to exhibit good attitudes to work and discharge their duties effectively, show professionalism and always uphold the ethics of the public service.
Fairwell songs were rendered by the Local Government service cultural troupe, several goodwill messages and testimonies were also shared about the celebrant while many gifts were also presented to him during the event.
Many dignatries graced the retirement party which included PS Ministry of Local Govt Affairs Mr Babatunde Olaoye, some ES/ZI, HRM Oba Oludare Omosebi the Olohan of Erijiyan, Excos of Awareness club Erijiyan Ekiti amongst others.
Alhaji Bello was born in Igbehin Adun quarters of Erijiyan Ekiti . He joined the LG service in old Ondo State in 1989 as a clerical officer and rose through the ranks in various LGs to the position of an ES/ZI for Ekiti South Senatorial district 2 till his retirement at the attainment of the mandatory 35yrs in service
