Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to merit, transparency, and fairness in the state civil service, insisting that appointments and promotions will no longer be influenced by politics, religion, gender, or personal connections.
The governor who spoke during the swearing in of 10 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service said the new permanent secretaries emerged through a highly competitive process, stating that he will not play politics with appointments into critical positions, including the teaching profession.
Revealing that the process of their selection and appointments followed their success in the highly competitive examination and based on objectivity, merit and free from any interference, he said the exercise was in a bid to strengthen the leadership of the civil service and reposition it for effective service delivery.
Oyebanji who urged the new Permanent Secretaries to work hand in hand with his administration to realize his government’s shared prosperity agenda as well as its vision of sustainable development in the state stressed the need for them to discharge their duties effectively and do their best to maintain the tempo of development in the state.
While congratulating the new Permanent Secretaries, the Governor reminded them that the custody of public funds and effective implementation of government policies fall within their purview adding that, since their everyday choices will affect thousands of lives, they must be guided by patience and not convenience.
Those sworn in are S.O. Ibijola, Olaonipekun Eweje, Sunday Omoya, Morakinyo Akilo, Adelusi Lateef, Peter Ejimokun, Olufemi Adediran, Ayoola Clement, Bayode Lawrence, and Toyin Ojelabi-Pedro.
In an apparent reference to clamouring for waivers for some candidates that failed to meet the cut off marks in the recent teachers recruitment exercise, the Governor said there is no going back on the merit-based approach used for the selection process.
“I am not going to play politics with the appointment of those that will teach our children. Whoever that is appointed, they are indigenes and citizens of Ekiti State, I just want the best to teach our children so that they can compete globally with anybody from any part of the world.”
Earlier, the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi expressed her profound appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for giving the Civil Servants the necessary impetus to thrive despite the various challenges facing the service nationally as the Governor has consistently and deliberately shown himself as a leader who leads from the front by epitomizing the true meaning of a faithful and diligent public servant.
