Ondo State government has adopted the Federal Government salary structure for its health workforce as part of efforts to improve welfare, boost productivity and strengthen service delivery across the sector.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa also disclosed plans to embark on fresh recruitment of health personnel to address manpower gaps and enhance healthcare services in the state.
The governor, who spoke on Wednesday in Akure during the annual get-together and send-off ceremony for retired permanent secretaries and tutors-general, said his administration would continue to prioritise workers’ welfare while leveraging experience from retired senior civil servants to deepen governance.
Aiyedatiwa described retired permanent secretaries and top civil servants as invaluable assets, stressing that their institutional memory and administrative expertise remain critical to effective governance.
“We will continue to draw from the wealth of experience of our retired permanent secretaries and senior administrators. Their contributions to governance and policy implementation remain indispensable,” he said.
The governor noted that several retirees had already been engaged in key political appointments, underscoring the administration’s commitment to harnessing their expertise beyond active service.
He urged retirees to see retirement as a transition into another phase of service, encouraging them to mentor younger officers and uphold professionalism within the civil service.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening the public service, Aiyedatiwa said improved welfare and capacity expansion remained central to his governance agenda.
In his remarks, the Head of Service, Bayo Philip, commended the governor for prioritising workers’ welfare, prompt payment of retirees’ benefits and expanding the workforce.
He disclosed that about 5,000 appointments had been made to reinforce the civil service, while terminal benefits for retired permanent secretaries were being paid promptly.
Philip further revealed that the government had approved accommodation support for about 150 retired graduate headmasters affected by a long-standing policy delay dating back to 2009.
He added that the adoption of the Federal Government salary scale for medical officers and other health workers places Ondo among the early implementing states, noting that additional recruitment into the health sector would soon commence.
Chairman of the Forum of Ondo State Permanent Secretaries, Segun Odusanya, in his welcome address, lauded the administration’s reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity.
He said the forum had continued to promote professional standards, administrative discipline and policy continuity within the civil service.
Odusanya also commended the appointment of 34 permanent secretaries and provision of official vehicles for 22 others, describing the move as a boost to efficiency.
He noted that gratuity payments had been extended to 2019 for state retirees and 2014 for local government pensioners, describing it as a significant milestone.
In their goodwill messages, traditional ruler of Ode-Erinje, Oladele Akinmoye, and President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Mojisola Grace Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the government for sustained support to retirees.
They noted that recent interventions had eased post-retirement challenges, making life after service more stable.
Responding on behalf of the retirees, Bunmi Alade described retirement as a fulfilling phase, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the state.
Dignitaries at the event included Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olaleye Akinola; Special Adviser to the Governor on Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Kikelomo Ikuomola; APC State Chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, among others.
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