Ondo Recruits 6,000 Workers, Approves N500m For Staff Loans

The Ondo State Government has recruited about 6,000 personnel since 2024 and approved an additional N500 million seed fund for public servants’ housing and vehicle loan schemes as part of efforts to improve workers’ welfare and strengthen service delivery.

The state Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing to herald the 2026 Public Service Week celebration at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Akure.

Odusanya said the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also reviewed loan ceilings and Duty Tour Allowance payable to public servants undertaking approved official assignments within and outside the state.

He added that all officers due for promotion in the 2026 cycle had received their promotion letters, while preparations for the 2027 promotion exercise were underway.

According to him, the government has continued to meet its obligations on workers’ salaries and applicable allowances, including leave bonuses, while making efforts to gradually clear inherited gratuity arrears owed to state and local government pensioners.

The Head of Service said the recruitment exercise covered critical sectors, including health, education, justice, works and forestry, to address manpower shortages and improve public service delivery.

He added that appointments to Permanent Secretary positions and other senior offices had continued to strengthen administrative leadership across the state’s public service.

Despite these interventions, Odusanya appealed to the state government to introduce affordable mass transit arrangements and develop low-cost housing estates to ease the financial burden on workers.

He said rising transportation costs and difficulties in securing affordable accommodation could affect workers’ punctuality, attendance and productivity.

He urged the government to consider providing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses or other affordable transportation options for public servants.

Odusanya also called for the development of low-cost housing estates supported by sustainable financing arrangements and transparent allocation procedures to complement the existing housing loan scheme.

He said, “Transportation has become a major concern for many public servants. Rising commuting costs and difficulties in securing affordable and reliable transport can affect punctuality, attendance and overall productivity.”

On housing, he said affordable accommodation would improve workers’ living conditions, strengthen their sense of security and stability, and boost morale and productivity.

Odusanya, however, stressed that improved welfare must be matched by discipline, integrity, accountability and greater productivity, urging public servants to discharge their duties diligently and treat citizens with courtesy.

He also urged heads of ministries, departments and agencies to provide purposeful leadership, promote teamwork and ensure that public resources were deployed towards approved objectives.

The 2026 Public Service Week celebration is themed “Harnessing Public Service for Good Governance.”

The six-day programme commenced on Monday with the press briefing and continues with a health walk and novelty football match on Tuesday, a workers’ convergence on Wednesday, and a public service lecture and panel discussion on Thursday.

Muslim and Christian thanksgiving services are scheduled for Friday and Sunday, respectively, with the celebration expected to end on October 18.