The Sokoto State Local Government Service Commission has embarked on training of staff across the 23 local government areas of the state to reposition the sector for effective service delivery.
The permanent secretary of the commission, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, disclosed this while outlining the commission’s achievements under the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu in the past two years.
According to him, over 700 local government agricultural staff have been sponsored for Diploma programmes at the College of Agriculture, Wurno, as part of the state’s renewed focus on revitalising the agricultural sector and strengthening grassroots productivity.
He further revealed that more than 8,000 local government staff were sponsored for various Degree and Higher National Diploma, HND, programmes at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and other tertiary institutions across the state during the same period.
“These efforts are aimed at improving the capacity, knowledge, and professionalism of our workforce, which in turn enhances service delivery to the people,” he explained.
the permanent secretary noted that the commission had also sponsored a significant number of staff from the Works Departments of various local governments to pursue engineering-related courses. This initiative, he said, was designed to fill the looming gap in technical manpower caused by the retirement of senior staff and the general shortage of engineers in the system.
“In our Works Departments, many senior officers are retiring, creating gaps that must be addressed to sustain infrastructural development at the grassroots level. We are training new engineers to fill those positions and ensure continuity,” he added.
In addition to formal education and professional courses, the Commission has also prioritized vocational training to equip artisans with practical skills needed for self-reliance and community development.
“We have partnered with the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, and the Sokoto Works School to train artisans in various trades such as electrical work, masonry, carpentry, plumbing, and other technical skills,” Abubakar stated.
He explained that beneficiaries of the programme were awarded trade test certificates and other recognized qualifications, enabling them to become certified professionals in their respective fields.
According to him, these initiatives are part of the broader vision of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto to build a disciplined, competent and motivated workforce that can drive sustainable development across all local government areas in the state
