Commission Urges Civil Servants To Participate In Oyo State LG Polls

The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, Isiaka Olagunju says civil servants should exercise their civic rights by voting in the forthcoming Local Government Council election.

The OYSIEC boss said this during the visit of the Commission to the office of the Oyo State Head of Service, at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Olagunju, who sought the support of the Head of Service in staffing and capacity building, among others to have a successful poll, said it was essential for civil servants to play their part in sustaining democratic administration at the third tier of government.

He maintained that the present administration, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, was committed to conducting the Local Government Council election, which he said the governor demonstrated in 2021.

Olagunju stated: “I observed that the majority of civil servants in the state don’t usually vote during local Government Council elections. At the last election we had in 2021, 29.6 percent of registered voters in the state took part. We appeal to you all to come out enmasse on election day and cast your vote, we assure you of a free, fair, credible, peaceful and transparent election, come 2024.”

While congratulating the Head of Service on her appointment, which he described as a round peg in a round hole, the OYSIEC boss said the role and contributions of civil servants working with the Commission in election conduct was inevitable.

He emphasised the need to have professionals and special staffers for the task ahead.

He said: “We congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment. We know that your office is responsible for human development in Oyo State and we seek your support in this regard.

“Preparations for the 2024 Local Government Council election are ongoing, and we need to move around. We need information technology experts to handle the ICT section and special staffers that will be solely for election conduct,” Olagunju appealed.

The Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, while responding, said the requests of OYSIEC require the input of the Commission for actualisation.

She expressed the readiness of her office to work with the Commission and attend to their requests promptly.

She enjoined the leadership of OYSIEC to intensify efforts on sensitisation and awareness creation on the Local Government Council election, for inclusive participation.

“The Commission needs trusted and reliable staff. You will need to put your request in black and white, and we will process it on your behalf. You will need more publicity, more sensitisation for more participation,” the Head of Service concluded.

Confidence Okwuchi