The two lawmakers representing the Ibadan South East Constituency I and II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeshina Fatai Adeniyi and Hon. Ademola Akeem Ige were among the eminent personalities that were given awards by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) Ibadan South East Local Government chapter on Wednesday 1st November, 2017.
Others awarded included the Hon. Dapo Lam Adeshina member Federal House of Representatives representing Ibadan South East/Ibadan North East Federal Constituency, Hon. Teslim Ajimobi, Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government and the NULGE President, Oyo State, Alhaji Titilola Sodo.
The award ceremony which was held inside the ancient Mapo Hall, Mapo, Ibadan was part of the Ibadan South East Local Government Staff get together party/sent forth for former Head of Local Government Administration of the said local government area, Mrs Victoria Olufunmilayo Akinpelu.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the Chairman NULGE Ibadan South East Local Government chapter, Comrade Taiwo Olateju explained that the award was organized to appreciate the awardees who were chosen because of numerous ways they have contributed to the welfare of the workers and development of the council area so as to serve as encouragement for them not to relent on their oars in impacting positively on the lives of the people in the society.
Some staff in their separate remarks, paid glowing tributes to Hon. Ademola Akeem Ige for making staff welfare paramount during his tenure and appointing over 350 people into the local government, which according to them, has never happened before or after his administration in the history of any local government area in Nigeria.
Also speaking in the same vein was the compere of the programme, Comrade Saheed Adejare who could not hide his joy and publicly appreciated Hon. Ige for giving them means of livelihood as he was among 350 staff employed by Hon. Ige and has risen to the position of the Director of Information alongside about 15 others that have either become Deputy Directors or Directors in various local government areas in Oyo State today.
In their separate responses to the award, the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government, Hon. Teslim Ajimobi described the award as an encouragement, award of hope that has never happened in the history of the council before he came on board on 7th April, 2017 that would spur him to do more in terms of staff welfare.
Hon. Fatai Adeshina explained that though he was not keen about receiving awards, he took it as a message to the youths in his council area to work hard and look after their lives so that they can become somebody of value in future.
Hon. Ademola Ige on his part used the occasion to appreciate all members of staff of the local government that worked with him during his tenure between 2003 and 2007 for their tolerance, commitment to work, loyalty, dedication and cooperation.
Hon. Ige who recalled that during his tenure as council Chairman, apart from employing over 350 staff, he refused to carry out the directive by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair to sack all staff that were classified as being employed in bad faith by the previous administration in the State because Ibadan South East local government is an indigenous area where everybody is regarded as one family.
He thereafter dedicated the award to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, (Aje Ogunguniso I) who was represented at the event by the Lagunna Olubadan of Ibadan and promised that the award would motivate him to focus more on good governance, quality programme delivery and humanitarian service.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of award to the out gone HLGA, Mrs Victoria Olufunmilayo and other outstanding staff in the council area.
Packaged by Oyedapo Oyewole
