By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki.
The Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), in collaboration with Noble and Brown House Management Consultant Ltd., has concluded a three-day intensive workshop aimed at boosting the capacity of principal officers for effective service delivery across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
The training, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abakaliki, brought together council chairmen, treasurers, heads of department for Works, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), and Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs).
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Igwe represented by the Permanent Secretary, Barr. Peter Edeh commended the commission for organizing the “impactful and timely” workshop.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired to strengthen governance at the grassroots.
Barr. Edeh announced the state government’s readiness to establish a Department of Food and Nutrition in all LGAs as part of efforts to tackle the high rate of malnutrition in Ebonyi.
According to him, recent assessments by UNICEF and the World Bank rated Ebonyi among the most malnourished states in Nigeria, a development which prompted Governor Francis Nwifuru to mandate the creation of the new department.
“If you see the pictures presented by UNICEF and the World Bank, you will pity Ebonyi State.
"The Governor has directed that all 13 LGAs must have a Department of Food and Nutrition. We already have a state nutrition officer leading the fight to ensure Ebonyi is not destroyed," he said.
He added that the workshop’s theme aligns with the Governor’s People’s Charter of Needs and that the Federal Government has adopted the same approach, making LG involvement essential.
He encouraged treasurers, DPMs, PRS officers, HOD Works and others to take the training seriously, emphasizing that the state’s development agenda depends heavily on their efficiency.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the LG Service Commission, Chief Romanus Nwasum represented by Arch. Augustine Nwechara praised Governor Nwifuru for approving the workshop and prioritizing workers’ welfare, describing his commitment as “unprecedented since the creation of the state.”
He urged participants to translate their new knowledge into improved service delivery and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to continuous training for LG workers.
The workshop chairperson, Barr. Oby Okenyim, explained that the training was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of modern project planning, feasibility studies, costing, and management.
She stressed that the skills acquired would help them deliver projects that meet real community needs and ensure value for public funds.
CEO of Noble and Brown House Management Ltd., Dr. Pascal Kanu, highlighted the participatory nature of the workshop, emphasizing the importance of consulting communities before initiating projects to avoid waste and abandonment.
The Chairman of the Conference of Principal Officers of Ebonyi LG System and Director of Administration in Ikwo LGA, Chief Moses Oshibe, said the training had broadened their knowledge and would improve performance across LGAs.
He also commended Governor Nwifuru for clearing accumulated gratuities and pensions owed to retired workers.
Council chairmen, including Barr. Sunday Nwankwo (Ikwo), Prince Ikechukwu Odono (Ohaukwu), Hon. Ogodoali Nome (Ezza North), and Hon. Mrs. Euphemia Nwali (Ezza South), applauded the commission for the timely training.
They promised to implement lessons learned to enhance productivity and project delivery at the grassroots.
They described learning as a continuous process and said the workshop would help them improve project conceptualization, planning, and execution.
The workshop, themed “Integrated Strategies for Project Concept, Feasibility Studies, Costing and Project Management,” drew participants from all 13 LGAs. Highlights included the presentation of certificates and the adoption of a communiqué by participants.
