When Bashorun Akinwale Solomon Akinwole assumed office on May 19, 2025, as Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), he entered history as the youngest person to lead the institution. Popularly known as Wolekanle, the Ogbomoso-born politician, entrepreneur, and administrator brought with him a blend of youthful energy, innovation, and determination to reposition the Commission for excellence.
Just one hundred days later, his short but impactful tenure has been described as “pace-setting” by stakeholders and workers across Oyo State.
The LGSC serves as the backbone of grassroots governance—recruiting and training staff, ensuring fair promotion, protecting workers’ rights, and upholding service standards. To complement Governor Seyi Makinde’s reforms in the local government system, Wolekanle wasted no time in rolling out bold initiatives to restore confidence and improve productivity.
His first priority was fostering harmony among commissioners, management staff, and sister agencies—creating, in his words, “a smooth operational flow” that ensures the Commission functions as a unified body.
Determined to motivate staff, Bashorun Akinwole introduced multiple training programmes to sharpen workers’ skills and backed them with increased training allowances. The upward review, many workers say, has not only encouraged learning but also shown leadership’s commitment to their welfare.
Deacon Taiwo Olafimihan Adewale, Permanent Secretary of the Commission, affirmed this shift:
“We are witnessing a paradigm shift in the Commission. It is the dawn of a new era, a complete deviation from what obtained in the past. Before their emergence, training allowances used to be low, but now the board has approved an upward review. Not only that, they have also approved more trainings and seminars for local government staff. Very soon, our people will be going to Abuja and even abroad for workshops.”
Perhaps the most celebrated reform within his first 100 days was the clearance of over 10,000 promotion arrears, a backlog that had lingered for years. The decision restored faith among local government staff and earned him praise from unions and administrators alike.
“Wolekanle is not denying local government staff their rights and privileges,” a senior staff member noted. “He believes workers deserve them, and withholding such benefits would only reduce their effectiveness.”
For the first time in the Commission’s history, Hon Akinwole, alongside commissioners and the management team, embarked on a statewide tour of all 33 local governments. The exercise, which combined staff interaction, verification, and a morale-boosting mission, has been widely described as groundbreaking.
Hon. Sikiru Sanda Oyedele, ALGON Chairman and Egbeda LG boss, commended the move during a staff audit visit: “This is an innovation that ought to have been in place long before now. I commend you for this idea—it will have a positive impact on local government administration.”
His view was echoed by Alhaji Owolabi Aderemi, Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Local Government Administration, who called it “a laudable step that would aid government planning,” and by NULGE President, Mr. Ayobami Olusegun Adeogun, who described the tour as “a positive signal to the workforce” and praised the manpower database it produced.
Bashorun Akinwole’s Reforms and Governor Makinde’s Workers’ Welfare Agenda
Bashorun Akinwole’s reforms complement Governor Seyi Makinde’s broader agenda of uplifting council staff through promotions, career upgrades, and improved service delivery.
Reflecting on the Commission’s progress, Hon. Akinwole said, “In the last hundred days, we have not just set unprecedented records, but we are also setting the pace for others to follow. With the support of our commissioners and management staff, we are positioning the Commission on a higher pedestal that will directly impact local government administration in Oyo State.”
Though only three months in office, Bashorun Akinwole is already being celebrated as one of the Commission’s most impactful chairmen. His combination of youthful dynamism, bold reforms, and alignment with the governor’s vision has raised expectations among workers and stakeholders.
For him, however, the mission is far from complete. “We are consolidating the gains of our first 100 days,” he assured, “and we remain determined to push the Commission to even greater heights.”
With his hands firmly on the wheel and Governor Makinde’s reforms as a guiding compass, many believe Wolekanle is on course to etch his name in the golden records of Oyo State’s public service.
