By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has sworn in 48 newly-appointed Permanent Secretaries in the state Civil/Public Service, urging them to discharge their duties effectively and do their best for the state.
He urged the Permanent Secretaries to work hand in hand with his government to achieve its vision of sustainable development of the state.
The governor stated these at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital, shortly after the oath of office and allegiance were administered on them.
Gov. Makinde described the event as historic, adding that the process of their appointments was based on objectivity, merit and without any interference from anywhere.
The governor noted that the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in Education and Local Government sectors was done to encourage and motivate people working silently and also to institutionalize the sectors in the service.
He congratulated the new Permanent Secretaries and appreciated the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, for handling the appointment processes diligently.
Governor Makinde said: “History is being made today, because appointing 48 Permanent Secretaries is no joke, but those are vacancies that have to be filled. We didn’t play politics with it. We did not create those positions, as they have been in existence.
“It’s just that over time, we have had mostly Coordinating Directors; but now, we have appointed Permanent Secretaries.
“If you remember, when this administration came in, what we met on ground was a situation where the appointment of Permanent Secretaries was discretionary. But we started a new culture when we came in. We had the exam and we were picking from the list.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the Head of Service for handling this situation diligently. She deserves all the accolades. You will notice that in the Education sector, we took time to appoint Inspectors-General and Tutors-General.
“Our future is about how we are able to educate our children because they are the future. So, if you have people that are contributing to building our future, how do you encourage them? That is why we opened up that space so as to institutionalize the process whereby teachers and people in the Education sector can also be compensated.
“The same obtains for those in the Local Government sector. At the Local Government level, we felt that you have people also toiling day and night because it’s the closest government to the people. But every time I look through the record, I see that it is always a token for the Local Government.
“We are trying to redress that so that we can encourage the people working at that level to be at the peak of their career as well.
“When you work hard, the reward is more work. So, I want to say to you that this is just the beginning. You have to put in your best to justify the appointment.
“Also, you need to know that you swore to an oath to be fair to everybody. So, don’t forget the oath when you are taking decisions and writing memos. Please do your best for our state.”
The new Permanent Secretaries include three earlier appointed and 15 newly-appointed ones from the mainstream; 15 from the Education sector, comprising Inspectors-General of Education and Tutors-General; and six from the Health sector.
Others are seven from the Local Government sector; Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the House and the Surveyor-General of the state.
The event was attended by the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Deputy Governors, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi and Mr. Hasim Gbolarumi; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; and Head of Service, Mrs Oni.
Also in attendance were former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Oyo State PDP Secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke; chairman and co-chairman, Oyo State Elders Council, Dr. Saka Balogun and Elder Wole Oyelese, as well as commissioners, among other dignitaries.
