Nasarawa State Equips LG Officers with Modern Skills to Revolutionize Record-Keeping

By A.A. Mammara Onyapa

 In a strategic move to strengthen local governance, the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) has launched a two-day intensive workshop to modernize records management and enhance service delivery across its administrative tiers.

The workshop, themed "Management of Public Records and Documentation for Local Government Service Commission Staff," commenced on November 12, 2025, at the Commission's Conference Hall in Lafia.

In his opening address, the LGSC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mustafa Aliyu, underscored the training's critical role. He defined proper record-keeping as the "foundational pillar of effective governance" and the "institutional memory of the government."

"Accurate records are non-negotiable," Aliyu stated. "They ensure Accountability by providing an auditable trail, guarantee Continuity by preserving institutional knowledge, and promote Efficiency by enabling the quick retrieval of information for timely public service."

The participants, comprising Staff Officers and Accountants from all 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 18 Area Administrative Councils (AACs), were charged to abandon outdated methods and adopt secure, systematic, and modern documentation practices.

"The integrity of our entire local government system depends on the quality of the records you create, manage, and preserve," Alhaji Aliyu emphasized, pledging the Commission's full support for implementing these new standards.

Setting the stage for the training, the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Hauwa Aliyu Oga, highlighted the urgent need for the initiative. She pointed to a noticeable decline in administrative efficiency, largely due to poor personnel records maintenance, which has eroded the system's institutional memory.

Hajiya Oga described the Staff Officers and Accountants as "critical and strategic to the continuity of efficient service delivery," making their capacity-building imperative.

The workshop featured expert resource persons from Consultancy Service Ltd and the University of Jos, who provided comprehensive training on modern records management.

At the closing ceremony on November 13, Commissioner Three, Evangelist Stephen Barki Zachariah, applauded the facilitators for their expertise. He urged participants to be agents of change by actively applying their new skills at their respective duty posts.

Evangelist Zachariah also noted that the workshop's objectives align perfectly with the state's broader governance agenda, specifically connecting with the theme for this year's joint Commissions and Boards retreat: "Digital Governance for Accelerated Service Delivery in Nasarawa State."

Equipped with renewed purpose and practical knowledge, the officers are now expected to return to their LGAs and AACs to drive immediate improvements, marking a significant leap toward a more transparent, efficient, and modernized local administration in Nasarawa State.