“…Council is Not Going to be Business as Usual..” – New LGSC Dr. Samuel Edson Bayon Explains

Newly appointed Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Samuel Edson Bayon has on Friday 18th November, 2022 made a familiarization visit to the Bo City Council during which he stated clearly that with him at the helm of the affairs of the LGSC, Council affairs are “not going to be business as usual.”

The Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), pursuant to section 38, subsection 1 of the Local Government Act No. 1 of 2004, is a body “responsible for providing regulatory, performance management and management functions to the system of decentralized government established” under the same act.

As such, Human Resource Officer at the LGSC, Samuel Hubbard gratified core staff of Bo City Council for holding the fort strongly amidst turbulent waves at its (Council) sea and encouraged the team to continue working in unity to achieve many developments within the Council’s jurisdiction.

Mr. Hubbard extensively explained that new reforms have been suggested by Councils to be incorporated in the Human Resource Guideline of Councils, all geared towards ameliorating staff welfare; and stated that all should keep fingers crossed that the local government bill passes through parliament prior the expiration of the current Parliament’s term.

In his witty welcome address, the Deputy Mayor of the Bo City Council, Councillor David J. N. Smart stated that the appointment of Dr. Bayon as Chairman of the LGSC “was carefully done” given his academic pedigree and profound work experience.

Councillor Smart expressed elation over proposed reforms in the Human Resource guideline stated by Samuel Hubbard, calling them “simplistic, realistic and shall be a relief for core staffs of Local Councils.” He lamented that the Bo City Council is going through tuff financial challenge which he explicitly highlighted and expressed the need for help in solving the said problem.

Thus, he described the familiarization visit of the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Samuel Edson Bayon “an appreciated one which shows his (Chairman) seriousness and commitment in the work of Councils moving forward.”

Speaking to Core staffs of the Bo City Council, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Bayon stated that Bo has a special place in his heart given the fact that his father hailed from Bo district and his wife schooled partly in Bo at the Queen of the Rosary School (QRS).

He noted the concerns raised by the Deputy Mayor and stated he shall endeavor to work on them as and how he can. “I am looking forward to working fruitfully with you all,” Dr. Bayon stated, “but one thing I must say is that it is not going to be business as usual,” he added.

He stressed that for development to be visible in the locality, team work should be key as he believes “in cohesiveness.” He urged the core staffs to work with utmost concentration and focus on the brighter goal; development.

“The LGSC is not a police: we are and will not be here to police you. Rather, let us all work together to achieve bigger and better things,” remarked Dr. Bayon. He ended up humoring that “Jesus passed through Bo while he was ascending into heaven and so he left so many blessings in Bo, and given that, Bo City is blessed;” and thus beckoned staffs to collaborate with each other for the development of the city.