Aiyedatiwa reaffirms commitment to workers’ welfare, good governance

…Plans CNG-powered buses to ease workers’ transportation challenges

By Tolulope Eniola

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, professional development and improved service delivery as part of efforts to promote good governance in the state.

The governor said his administration had continued to implement measures to improve the working conditions of public servants, including timely payment of salaries, regular promotions, training and retraining, as well as improved access to healthcare through the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS).

Aiyedatiwa stated this on Thursday at the 2026 Public Service Lecture held at the International Centre for Culture and Events, The Dome, Igbatoro Road, Akure.

Speaking on the theme, “Harnessing Public Service to Promote Good Governance,” the governor described the public service as a strategic partner in governance and a critical instrument for translating government policies into tangible benefits for the people.

He said good governance could not be achieved through political leadership alone but required a competent, professional, disciplined and responsive workforce capable of implementing government programmes effectively.

According to him, while political leadership provides direction and determines policy priorities, the public service supplies the institutional continuity, technical expertise and administrative capacity needed to achieve desired results.

The governor commended the Head of Service, labour leaders and the entire workforce for their cooperation, dedication and contributions to the achievements recorded by his administration across various sectors.

He assured the workers that their welfare would remain a priority, noting that a motivated workforce was essential to an effective public service.

Aiyedatiwa said the government had also elevated qualified officers to Accounting Officer positions and reviewed selected welfare packages, including car loans, housing loans and duty tour allowances, to strengthen workers’ financial well-being and improve productivity.

On healthcare, he said the ORANGHIS initiative was designed to improve access to medical services for public servants and their dependants, adding that organised labour and retirees were partnering with the government to strengthen the scheme.

The governor also disclosed that his administration had cleared the backlog of gratuities up to 2020, assuring retirees that efforts would continue to address outstanding obligations.

He said the government remained mindful of its responsibilities to retired workers, whose years of sacrifice and service to the state deserved recognition and respect.

Aiyedatiwa, however, explained that the remaining gratuity backlogs would be addressed progressively, subject to available resources and established procedures.

On employment and manpower development, the governor revealed that the state had recruited more than 2,000 teachers for public primary and secondary schools, as well as about 3,323 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, for hospitals and basic healthcare facilities.

He said the recruitment exercises were aimed at strengthening the workforce in critical sectors and improving the quality of services available to residents.

The governor further disclosed that his administration was exploring the procurement of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses to ease transportation challenges faced by public servants travelling to and from their workplaces.

He also emphasised the importance of a credible reward system that recognises diligence, innovation, integrity and exceptional performance in the public service.

According to him, the decision to honour distinguished serving and retired civil servants, organisations and Ministries, Departments and Agencies was intended to encourage excellence and reinforce the administration’s commitment to rewarding hard work.

Congratulating the award recipients, Aiyedatiwa urged them to regard the recognition as a call to greater responsibility, while encouraging other public servants to embrace accountability, discipline, professionalism and continuous improvement.

He stressed that the workforce had a crucial role to play in the implementation of the administration’s OUR EASE Agenda, noting that its success must be reflected in the quality, speed, transparency and accessibility of public services.

The governor urged public servants to ensure that the discussions and lessons from the 2026 Public Service Week translated into measurable improvements in their daily responsibilities.

He said a more efficient, innovative, accountable and responsive public service would strengthen public trust, advance good governance and contribute to a more prosperous Ondo State.

In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Mr Segun Odusanya, urged public servants to place accountability, professionalism and citizens’ welfare at the centre of their responsibilities.

Odusanya said transparency, efficiency and respect for the rule of law were essential to effective public administration, calling for the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks, digital transformation and stronger collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies.

He advocated a results-oriented approach to make public institutions more responsive to citizens’ needs.

The Head of Service acknowledged the government’s interventions in workers’ welfare, including salary payments, recruitment, appointments to accounting officer positions, capacity development, support for retirees, payment of terminal examination fees for children in public primary and secondary schools and health insurance.

He said the public service required continuous improvement to remain competent, ethical and results-driven.

According to him, the annual celebration provides an opportunity for public servants to learn from retired leaders and recognise officers and organisations distinguished by integrity, innovation, dedication and performance.

Odusanya thanked Aiyedatiwa for his support for the public service.

The chairman of the occasion and former Head of Service, Mr Akin Adaramola, urged public servants to uphold integrity, merit, professionalism, impartiality and selfless service.

Adaramola expressed delight at the presence of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, noting that good governance depended on visionary, disciplined, loyal and committed public servants.

Delivering the lecture, retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Sulaiman, proposed a comprehensive five-year reform programme to transform the public service from a routine-driven bureaucracy into a modern, results-oriented institution.

He called for the modernisation of administrative structures, strategic deployment of personnel in line with institutional priorities, measures to address skills gaps and stronger collaboration across government institutions.

He also recommended a review of the mandates of ministries, departments and agencies to eliminate duplication, clarify responsibilities and improve coordination.

Sulaiman outlined a seven-stage policy process comprising problem identification, research, policy formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and adjustment, stressing the need for a structured approach to policy development and execution.

On digital transformation, he proposed electronic records, online applications and approvals, digital payment systems, integrated government platforms and real-time monitoring dashboards to improve administrative efficiency and service delivery.

He divided the proposed reforms into three phases. The first 12 months would focus on establishing performance benchmarks, identifying capacity gaps and setting service delivery standards.

The second phase, covering years one to three, would involve expanding digital services, strengthening performance management and introducing structured feedback mechanisms through which citizens could assess public services.

The final phase, spanning years three to five, would focus on consolidating improvements, sustaining reforms and linking performance data to budgeting.

The retired permanent secretary also proposed an accountability framework covering planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, learning and continuous improvement.

He said the success of public service reforms should be measured by the tangible benefits delivered to citizens rather than the number of policies introduced or institutions established.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; members of the State Executive Council; permanent secretaries; political appointees; traditional rulers and other dignitaries.