By Ayodele Oni
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured that his administration will continue to appoint retired public servants into sensitive political roles, underscoring the relevance of their expertise beyond active service.
This, he believes will afford the administration to draw from the experience and institutional memory of retired permanent secretaries and senior civil servants, describing them as a vital resource for strengthening governance and public service delivery.
Governor Aiyedatiwa made the remark at the annual get-together and send-off ceremony for retired permanent secretaries and tutors-general in Akure.
The governor stated that retired senior civil servants remain invaluable assets whose administrative depth and practical understanding of governance must continue to be harnessed for the development of the state.
He explained that the administration remains open to leveraging the intellectual capital and wealth of experience of retired permanent secretaries and administrators to enhance efficiency in governance.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed that several members of the forum of retired heads of service and permanent secretaries had already been appointed into sensitive political roles, underscoring the relevance of their expertise beyond active service.
The governor stressed that the progress recorded by successive administrations in the state would not have been possible without the commitment and professionalism of public servants who drive policy implementation.
He 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.
On welfare, Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the public service and improving productivity.
In his remarks, 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.
Philip said civil servants in the state have continued to benefit from what he described as a responsive and worker-friendly administration, noting 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.
The HoS further stated that the administration had approved accommodation support for about 150 retired graduate headmasters affected by a policy delay dating back to 2009, many of whom had died before intervention.
He also confirmed that the governor approved the federal salary review for medical officers and health workers, making Ondo State one of the early adopters of the scale, adding that more health workers will be recruited soon.
Philip urged retired permanent secretaries to maintain their dignity and continue contributing meaningfully to the development of the public service.
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