Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has commended public servants in the state for their commitment and dedication to duty, describing them as the backbone of governance and development.
Aiyedatiwa stated this on Thursday in Akure while addressing workers during the 2025 Public Service Week celebration.
The theme of this year’s event is, “Rejuvenating Public Service for Effective Service Delivery.”.
The governor said the celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on the past, reconnect with purpose, and reimagine the future of the state’s public service.
“The machinery of government must be agile, innovative, and responsive. This requires a conscious rejuvenation that breathes new life into our bureaucracy and rekindles the spirit of patriotism that defines the Ondo State Public Service,” he said.
The governor noted that his administration viewed the public service as a partner in progress rather than subordinates, pledging continued investment in workers’ welfare, capacity building, and timely promotions.
Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his government’s resolve to uphold regular promotions, timely salary payments, and the elevation of deserving officers to the rank of Permanent Secretary, saying these measures were essential to morale and productivity.
“The public service must move from routine to impact; beyond bureaucracy to creativity; beyond process to performance,” he said
On pensions, Aiyedatiwa said the government had cleared the 2016 and 2017 gratuity backlogs for state workers and 2014 arrears for local government and primary school teachers.
Earlier, the State Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip, said to remain effective, the public service must move from routine to result, process to performance and from excuses to excellence.
Philip, who appreciated the governor and past head of service present, said public service was fully aware that government’s goals without disciplined and innovative workforce.
“I want to once again express my profound appreciation to the governor for his enduring commitment to the welfare and growth of Ondo State Public Service.
The event featured a lecture on the theme of the celebration delivered by a former Ekiti State Head of Service, Olugbenga Faseluka and a panel discussion where retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries shared their service experience to boost the morale of serving officers
The high point of the event was the confirrement of recognition of exemplary service on outstanding workers, both serving and retired.
Sina Adeyeye
Director Information
Office of the HOS
