•Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has approved the federal salary review for medical officers and health workers in Ondo State.
This was disclosed yesterday at the annual get-together and send-forth ceremony for retired permanent secretaries and tutors-general in Akure, the state capital, reports Daily Independent.
The governor also disclosed that more health workers would be recruited soon into health facilities in the state.
Appreciating the contributions and value of retired permanent secretaries to governance in the state, Governor Aiyedatiwa said his administration would continue to draw from the experience and institutional memory of retired permanent secretaries and senior civil servants.
He described them as a vital resource for strengthening governance and public service delivery.
The governor emphasised that retired senior civil servants remain invaluable assets and their administrative depth and practical understanding of governance must continue to be harnessed for the development of the state.
He revealed that several retired permanent secretaries and senior civil servants had already been appointed into sensitive political roles due to the relevance of their expertise.
The governor, therefore, urged retirees to view retirement not as the end of public service, but as a transition into another phase of contribution where they could mentor younger officers and promote professionalism within the civil service.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the public service and improving productivity through good welfare packages.
The Head of Service, Mr. Bayo Philip, commended the governor for prioritising workers’ welfare, prompt settlement of retirees’ entitlements and expansion of the civil service workforce.
He explained that civil servants in the state have continued to benefit from the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa-led responsive and worker-friendly administration.
Philip disclosed that the governor recently approved immediate payment of terminal benefits for retired permanent secretaries to ease access to their entitlements.
He disclosed that about 5,000 new appointments had been made to strengthen the civil service, accommodation has been approved to support about 150 retired graduate headmasters affected by a policy delay dating back to 2009, many of whom had died before intervention.
Philip, therefore, urged retired permanent secretaries to maintain their dignity and continue contributing meaningfully to the development of the public service.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum of Ondo State Permanent Secretaries, Segun Odusanya, described the forum as a structured body established to promote welfare, professional continuity and administrative discipline among serving and retired permanent secretaries.
Odusanya said the forum has continued to support public service efficiency through orientation programmes and reinforcement of administrative culture for effective policy execution.
He commended the governor for appointing 34 permanent secretaries and providing official vehicles for 22 previously appointed officers, describing the gesture as a boost to institutional effectiveness.
Odusanya noted that gratuity payments had been extended up to 2019 for state retirees and 2014 for local government pensioners, describing it as a significant intervention.
In their goodwill messages, the Orungberuwa of Ode-Erinje Kingdom, Oladele Akinmoye, and President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Mojisola Grace Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the state government for its continued support to retirees.
