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‎Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Friday swore in 33 new Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service, charging them to uphold transparency, integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
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‎Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony in Akure, the governor said the appointments formed part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the bureaucracy and improving service delivery to the people of the state.
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‎Aiyedatiwa noted that the latest exercise was the third round of such elevations since he assumed office, bringing the total number of officers promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary and other top accounting positions to about 50 within roughly two years.
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‎He expressed optimism that more deserving civil servants would still be elevated in the coming years, urging those who were yet to make the list not to lose hope as opportunities would continue to arise.
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‎The governor described the public service as a critical institution that sustains governance regardless of changes in political leadership, noting that it remains the engine room for the implementation of government policies and programmes.
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‎He also congratulated public servants in the state on the celebration of the golden jubilee of the Ondo State Public Service, describing the milestone as a moment of pride and reflection on the institution’s enduring role in governance.
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‎Aiyedatiwa commended the newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries, the Statistician-General and the Auditor-General for Local Government, noting that many of them had served in acting capacities for long periods without corresponding remuneration but continued to demonstrate dedication and professionalism.
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‎According to him, their elevation represents formal recognition by government of their commitment, hard work and discipline in managing sensitive assignments across ministries, departments and agencies.
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‎The governor reiterated that his administration had prioritised the welfare of workers through regular promotions, prompt payment of salaries and allowances, as well as the implementation of the reviewed national minimum wage with consequential adjustments.
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‎He added that the state had also recruited more than 4,000 personnel into various sectors, including teaching, medical, legal, agricultural, administrative and tax services, to strengthen manpower across the public service.
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‎Aiyedatiwa further said government had maintained cordial relations with labour unions through open dialogue while steadily addressing inherited gratuity liabilities at both state and local government levels within available resources.
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‎He said "Considering the pivotal role of the public service, our administration has accorded it pride of place. We have maintained regular promotions with no outstanding salaries to date. Promotions and allowances have also been paid.
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‎"Ondo State was prompt in negotiating and implementing the reviewed minimum wage, including its consequential adjustment across all grades and cadres.
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‎"We have also replenished the personnel stock with over 4,000 new intakes across the teaching, medical, legal, agricultural, administrative, cultural and tax cadres.
‎Deserving officers are regularly elevated to the rank of accounting officers such as Permanent Secretaries, Tutors-General, General Managers and Project Managers wherever vacancies arise, as a means of boosting morale and enhancing upward mobility within the service.
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‎"Our state has deliberately cultivated and sustained cordial labour-government relations through open access and dialogue. Labour matters are addressed promptly with sincerity on the part of government and maturity on the part of labour leaders."
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‎While urging the newly appointed accounting officers to demonstrate empathy and humane leadership in their dealings with subordinates, the governor warned that his administration would maintain zero tolerance for wastage, misapplication of public funds and any conduct that undermines public trust.