The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has advocated the posting of cultural officers, information officers, law officers, and sports officials to Local Government Councils in Bayelsa State, arguing that their presence in the local government councils will enhance the promotion, preservation and development of the various sectors.
Dr. Ayakoroma made the call in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at a 4-day workshop on Effective Local Government System organized by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), in collaboration with Bayelsa State Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the Bayelsa State Local Government Service Commission.
Addressing the newly sworn-in Local Government Chairmen, their Vice-Chairmen, Secretaries and other Principal Officers of the Councils, as well as other top government functionaries in the State, the culture guru called for posting or secondment of cultural officers and other professionals to local government councils, stressing that instead of being idle in the ministries and parastatals, they will be of relevance as professionals in the local councils to effectuate grassroots development.
The ES further appealed to the State and Federal Governments to look inwardly and see how this could be achieved, as it would fast-track the transformation agenda programmes of Mr. President at the grassroots.
The position of the ES was applauded by Honourable Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a Judge of the High Court of Bayelsa State, who maintained that such action, if taken by the government, will go a long way in addressing the missing link in effective and result-oriented system of governance in Bayelsa State and Nigeria as whole.
Clifford Ugwu
NICO SSZ