==== By Omo’ba Ade’Alex FAFURE
Ajoni Local Council Development Area in Ayedun Ekiti was alive with purpose and pageantry on Monday as the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) held a powerful grassroots engagement with council workers to galvanize support for the re-election of His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.
The visit, designed to deepen the bond between the state and its foundational workforce, was led by LGSC Chairman Chief Samuel Abejide, a proud son of Ajoni LCDA. It formed part of a statewide tour to consolidate momentum for the governor’s continuity agenda ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
The distinguished LGSC delegation, comprising board members and senior government functionaries, was warmly received at the Ajoni LCDA Secretariat by Executive Chairman Amb. Prince Michael Ogungbemi and the Head of Local Government Administration, Mr. Oludipe Kayode. Directors, deputy directors, the entire staff body, Ekiti State NULGE President Comrade O.B. Olatunde, Ikole LG NULGE Chairman Comrade Prince Shola Fetus Famoroti, commissioners, career public servants, and labour leaders were all present.
The atmosphere was electric and celebratory. To the rhythm of a welcome band, workers sang, danced, and chanted their unwavering backing for Governor Oyebanji, transforming the secretariat grounds into a vibrant tapestry of unity, hope, and collective resolve.
Addressing the Gathering, Chief Samuel Abejide said:
“Our mandate today is sacred: to meet directly with the men and women who keep the engine of local governance running, and to secure their partnership for the continuity of good governance in Ekiti State.
Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration has proven that leadership is not about titles, but about tangible impact. He has placed the welfare of workers, the development of grassroots infrastructure, and the renewal of our institutions at the very heart of his mission across all 16 LGAs and 22 LCDAs.
Development only becomes real, only becomes felt, when our local government workers are motivated, respected, and empowered. When systems function with integrity, the dividends of democracy flow effortlessly to the last mile.
As a son of Ajoni, I know the pulse of this land. I know what it means to build from the foundation upward. And I must commend, with profound pride, the indefatigable work of our Executive Chairman, Ambassador Prince Michael Ogungbemi. His visionary leadership and developmental strides across the ten communities of Ajoni have been nothing short of exemplary. He has carried the banner of service with dignity, and has not fallen short of the trust reposed in him.”
Ekiti State NULGE President, Comrade O.B. Olatunde, declared:
“Governor Oyebanji has redefined the relationship between government and organized labour. His commitment to improving conditions of service for council staff is unprecedented.
At the inception of his administration, the LGSC had only one Permanent Secretary. Today, we have four. Right now, about 125 local government workers are pursuing Master’s degrees, Diplomas, and higher qualifications at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, sponsored through his forward-looking investment in human capital.
He is the governor who began paying leave bonuses owed by previous administrations, honoring obligations that had long been forgotten. Governor Oyebanji has proven that when workers are valued, productivity and loyalty follow naturally. I urge every worker here to stand firmly behind policies that guarantee stability, dignity, and progress at the grassroots.”
Amb. Prince Michael Ogungbemi reaffirmed Ajoni LCDA’s steadfast loyalty
“Ekiti State has experienced purposeful, compassionate, and visionary leadership under Governor Oyebanji. His footprint is visible in our roads, our schools, our health centers, and in the renewed morale of our civil service.
In Ajoni, we do not just appreciate this leadership, we are ready to mobilize, to organize, and to deliver resoundingly for continuity. The future we desire is the future he is building, and we will not abandon it.”
Ikole LG NULGE Chairman, Comrade Prince Shola Fetus Famoroti, added:
We owe deep gratitude to the LGSC management and the state government for restoring honor and dignity to local government service.
The regular payment of salaries, the clearing of long-standing promotion arrears, and the renewed focus on staff training and capacity building are not small things. For years, workers felt unseen and unheard. Today, under Governor Oyebanji, we see a government that listens with empathy, consults with wisdom, and acts with courage.
The LGSC under Chief Abejide has become a bridge of trust between policy and the people at the grassroots. Labour is ready to reciprocate this goodwill through robust voter education and turnout in 2026, because industrial harmony thrives only where workers feel valued and respected.”
In his vote of thanks, the Head of Local Government Administration for Ajoni LCDA, Mr. Oludipe Kayode, said:
Today marks another milestone in the unprecedented attention being given to administrative strengthening at the council level. On behalf of the entire workforce, I commend both the LGSC and the state government for this deliberate investment in our capacity and welfare.
We pledge our full readiness to mobilize massively for Governor Oyebanji in the June 20th election, as a humble act of gratitude for his performance and commitment. I call on every worker to remain diligent, upright, and passionate in discharging their duties, while supporting policies that secure continuity, stability, and lasting progress for Ekiti State.
