By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has warned of the dangers in politicising the civil service.
According to him: “No doubt, politicising of the civil service will invariably kill morale, lower standards and threaten productivity among other adverse effects.”
He said: “Keen observers and other stakeholders of the service will attest to the fact that both in appointment and conduct of government business in general, we have striven to insulate the civil service from partisan politics.
“As I have often said, civil servants must leave partisan politics to politicians.”
His words: ”In furtherance of our desire to protect this institution, we have ensured that the public service under our watch is not politicised.”
He spoke in Akure while swearing in the new Permanent Secretaries, Tutors-General and Statistician General in the state who he charged to imbibe the kernel of hardwork and live above board in the course of discharging their public service duty.
Akeredolu stressed that they were appointed based on their impeccable record of service that showed they were eminently qualified.
He said that the burden of the public service is on their shoulders, adding that high sense of probity and accountability are needed to execute the task efficiently.
His words: “I must quickly remind you of the saying that to whom much is given, much is required. We shall demand from you absolute loyalty and high sense of probity and accountability in discharging your responsibilities in your respective MDAs.
“Indeed, you must continually exhibit those qualities that qualified you for your appointment in the first instance. You must realise that, along with your colleagues, the burden of the Public Service is now on your shoulders. You are now key players in this task of delivering good governance to our people through effective service delivery at every level”
On the welfare of workers and senior citizens, the Governor said his administration is committed to provide better well being and enabling environment.
He also praised the state labour leaders for upholding the ethics of their trade by collaborating with the State Government to make sure that the masses enjoy the dividends of democracy.
He said that the new Permanent Secretaries, Tutors-General and the State statistician General should acquaint themselves with his administration’s plans and programmes as encapsulated in the Policy Declaration.
They include Rural and Agricultural, Education Advancement and Human Capital Development, Maintenance of Law and Order for adequate security, Digital Revolution and Entrepreneurship and host of others.
The Governor praised the outgoing Head of Service, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye for his exemplary work and dedication to work, saying he has done excellently well.
He had on Monday, announced the appointment of the new 19 Permanent Secretaries, three Tutors-General and the State Statistician General.
The new Permanent Secretaries are: E.T Ogunmolaii, Ekpobomini, B. Jide, A. Akinnagbe, J.M Dele-Adesanmi, R.O Dare- Atunse (Mrs), A.J Adeyemo, O.A Akinseloyin, O.J Afolabi, O.S Akingbasote, O. F Akinmoye, T.O Adeyemi (Mrs), M.A Oshodi, Pharm. F.B Aladenola (Mrs), S. Akintomide, Julie Fayehun (Mrs), Dr. F. A Akanbiemu, O. Amuda (Mrs), Dr. Tosin Adekugbe and Abiodun Akintade who would be in the Local Government Service (Central).
Other new officers are R.O Agunbiade as Statistician General; Tutors-General for the Teaching Service Abiodun Emmanuel Akinfemisoye (Central) Ilesanmi Naphis Irinyemi (South) and Olu Bolanle Obameso (North).
