By: Our Reporter
The Ondo State 2024 Public Service Week celebration has kicked off, with the State Head of Service, Mr Bayo Phillip has expressed the commitment of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to ensure that the payment of N73,000 new minimum wage to workers in the state.
The HoS who noted that the delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage was due to the ongoing preparation of the consequential adjustment table by the technical committee.
Bayo Phillip who stated this in Akure on thursday during a Press Conference organized to herald the celebration of the 2024 Public Service, cautioned against politicizing the implementation of the new minimum wage as Governor Aiyedatiwa was fully ready to pay it as soon as the technical committee concludes its assignment.
The HoS said the committee was working round the clock to ensure that whatever salary table that is approved would be sustainable and not affect government’s resources in attending to other critical public issues.
According to the HoS, “Recently, Mr. Governor has approved a minimum wage of Seventy-three thousand naira for workers in the State. At the moment, the consequential adjustment table is being work out. There is no politics about it at all, and that is the character of the Aiyedatiwa Administration.
“Reflecting, the Ondo State Public Service has many positives to celebrate within less than one year of the present administration and we are grateful to Mr. Governor for his worker-friendly disposition.
Bayo Phillip also assured that appointment letters would soon be given to newly recruited 2000 teachers in the state.
“Recruitments are being made to boost the dwindling personnel in the health sector occasioned by the Japa’ syndrome while the ongoing recruitment of 2000 teachers into both the primary and secondary schools is being concluded and letters of appointment will be released soon. More Legal officers have also been recruited, recently into the Civil Service to facilitate seamless administration of justice in the State.
“The Aiyedatiwa-led Administration also places premium on capacity building, exposing officers in different cadres to training and retraining programmes, regularly. The State gives priority attention to prompt and regular payment of salary and pensions and has paid the 2024 Leave Bonus to all workers.
“Furthermore, Government has taken the bold step to commence a gradual defrayment of the inherited arrears of gratuities both to State and the Local Government retired workers. One other positive disposition of Aiyedatiwa Administration is appointment of Permanent Secretaries and officers of equivalent rank.
“The focus of the celebration is to acknowledge and commemorate the prime place of Public Service in the development of African States. The Public Service Week gives recognition to the institutions and practitioners of the Public Service.
“The 2024 edition of the Anniversary has the theme: “Creating and Managing Future-Ready Public Service: A Pathway to Sustainable Development”. The Anniversary has since been flagged off by the Federal Public Service while the states of the federation are following suit, as is the practice.
“In Ondo State, a four-day programme has been lined up for the celebration. The dates chosen are Thursday 31st October, Friday 1st, Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th November, 2024. The Anniversary begins with this Press Briefing which is the first day while on Friday, 1st November, 2024, the Head of Service would lead the public servants in the State in a Fitness Walk, starting from Adegbemile Cultural Centre to the State Secretariat enroute the Government House Ground.
“The Walk is designed to further by the present Administration in the State, as touching the Public Service. To date, all the 5,949 workers due for promotion in 2024 have received their promotion letters and the process for 2025 promotion will soon commence in line with Mr. Governor’s directive.
“This is a strengthen the physical fitness of our workers. There will be a Thanksgiving Service at the Chapel of Grace on Sunday, 3rd November, 2024 while the grand finale of the year celebration, the Public Service Lecture is slated for Monday, 4th November, 2024.
“The Lecture reflecting the theme of the Anniversary will be a moment of intellectual engagement and mind-rubbing by the Public Servants. As you know, the Public Service boasts of eminently qualified professionals, serving and retired, across various disciplines, who are capable of dissecting topical issues. The Lecture topic for the year is: “The Future of Public Service: Thinking Tomorrow, Today,” the HoS said.
