The job performance and productivity levels of local government staff in Nigeria have always been a great cause for concern.This study therefore critically and empirically explores the training and development programmes provided for Lokoja local government council staff.The study reveals that training needs assessment and training evaluation which are the central thematic elements of the systematic model of training are treated with levity in the training configuration of the local government.Also, the study shows that training effectiveness benchmarks such as the 'frequency','timing','balance' and 'relevance'of training programmes are adversely affected by the non-systematic approach to training in the case-study local government council.Establishing a nexus between the systematic approach to training and the aforementioned yardsticks of effective training makes this discourse absolutely imperative for local government administrators in Nigeria as well as researchers and training experts globally.