Governor Akeredolu Assures of Commitment to Workers’ Welfare & Development
The Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has assured the Ondo state civil service of his commitment to the welfare of workers and their development.
He was speaking at a reception by the Ondo state forum of permanent secretaries in honor of Permanent Secretaries who retired between 2017 and 2021.
The governor who was represented by the Special Adviser on Union matters, Sir, dare Aragbaiye however urged serving Permanent Secretaries to demonstrate leadership by example.
He said, that is the only way the culture and ethics of a disciplined service could be transmitted to the younger generation by civil servants.
Governor Akeredolu hammered on the need to build a holistic civil service that is highly productive, result oriented and creative to help meet the growing need of the citizens.
He said this has become more urgent in view of dwindling resources accruing to the state government which requires to create and distribute wealth for the generality of the people.
He landed the gesture of the serving Permanent Secretaries in honouring the Retired Permanent Secretaries and noted that their action is a positive proactive retributive seed for which they will someday harvest joyfully.
The Ondo state Head of Service, Pastor Niran Adeyemo appreciated the Governor for being forthnight with the civil service by promoting openness, accessibility and accountability particularly in the ministry management, administration and allocation of fund accruing to the government where the Labour Union and the government jointly seats to disburse resources.
He also acknowledged the primary work of the predecessor Sir Dare Aragbaiye in public service reform through Ondo Service Improvement Programme ODSIP which is currently being expanded for greater service delivery.
The Chairman, Ondo State Forum of Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Bunmi Alade expressed gratitude to the Governor for the unprecedented feat in the state Public Service, in the appointment of deserving officers as Permanent Secretaries as well as timely promotion of various cadres of the source.
Mr. Alade charged his colleagues to demonstrate unblemished integrity, contentment and good service delivery to the government and good people of Ondo state.
He pleaded with the office of the governor to take-over the responsibility of sowing befitting honors to retiring Permanent Secretaries as a morale booster to serving officers.
The Chairman, State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu called on the upper echelon of the bureaucracy to prepare to engage their skills in memoirs and other writing that will keep them mentally and physically alert after quitting office rather than going into idleness.
Representative of the Ondo State wing of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Omokehinde Shado thanked the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu for his dogged commitment to the welfare of the rank and file of the entire workforce.
He said it is gratifying that the State Governor commits no fewer than 2.4 billion naira annually to settling the gratuities of retirees, notwithstanding the lean purse of the state.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa noted that Ondo State is blessed with highly competent and resourceful technocrats asking that the tempo be maintained.
President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries Dr. Laoye Adegoke, who was represented by Mr. Michael Imoru called for a dynamic engagement in post-retirement life by top civil servants which he said could be utilized in community service.
Wife of Ondo State Head of Service, Mrs Ayo Adeyemo spoke on the onerous task of service at the upper echelon of the civil service and called for support and self-sacrifice by spouses to ensure the success of their partners.
Highpoint of the event was the special honours bestowed on the immediate past Head of Service and governor’s Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye as well as the governor’s Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale and parting gifts to 31 Retired Permanent Secretaries.
