The activities of Local Councils across the country are presently grounded as a result of conflicting postings from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Local Government Service Commission.
It will be recalled that, the Local Government Service Commission has on 18th March,2019 originated a memo transferring some administrative staff from some local councils in the country.
The Commissions maintains it stance that, it has got such a mandate pursuant to sections 35 and 38 of the Local Government Act of 2004.
The Local Government Service Commissions in their March 18th, 2019 press release noted that they hold the view that, staff recruitment, transfers, postings, discipline, mediation, retirements or sending staff on leave remains their sole responsibility according to the Local Government Act.
The Commission reiterates its earlier position to the Local Councils that, their position on this matter remains valid and unchanged.
Staff members who are affected were urged by the Commission to do the necessary handing over to the in-coming before reporting to their new stations.
The Ministry of Local Government fired back by in two correspondences dated 18th and 27th March, 2019 respectively reiterating that, the March 18th postings from the Local Government Service Commission remains cancelled.
‘’I am to stress that appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against any officer who attempts to undermine the authority of the Ministry /supervising entity,’’ the ministry release concluded.
This state of affairs has left the affected staff in these Local Councils in dilemma thereby affecting their productivity levels.
This rather ugly internal wrangling is taking place and Government has kept silence on an issue which has got the tendency to affect the delivery of services to our local communities.
The New Direction like the former APC is reportedly been fraught with such situations when people who should work together for the collective good of the nation are fighting over supremacy.
Is this the only function of the Ministry of Local Government? Where is there so much vested interest in the postings of personnel to Local Councils, is it the usual game of providing jobs for the boys?