Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of serving public servants and retirees, stressing that the contributions of the public service remain critical to effective governance and sustainable development.
Oyebanji made the commitment while addressing the 12th Quarterly General Meeting of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries of South-West Nigeria (ARHOSPS-SWN), hosted by the Ekiti State chapter of the association at its Secretariat and Relaxation Centre in Ado-Ekiti.
The meeting brought together retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States, alongside serving Permanent Secretaries in the Ekiti State Civil Service.
The Governor, represented at the meeting by the State Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, said his administration remained committed to strengthening public institutions and improving the welfare of retirees, disclosing that ₦250 million is being set aside monthly to address gratuity arrears, in addition to substantial payments already made toward pension and gratuity obligations at both the state and local government levels.
Beyond pensions and gratuities, Oyebanji highlighted his administration’s broader programmes covering infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, youth development, job creation, tourism and industrialisation, describing them as part of a wider effort to create an environment in which both serving workers and retirees can benefit from improved public services and economic opportunities.
Welcoming delegates, the President of the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association, Mr Oluwole Ariyo, described Ekiti as a state to watch in the South-West, citing developments in tourism, infrastructure, education and healthcare. He attributed the state’s progress to the Governor’s accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The meeting also featured a keynote address titled “The Doctrine of Neutrality, Impartiality and Anonymity,” delivered on behalf of Elder S.O. Bankole by retired Permanent Secretary Mr Kunle Olofin.
The address stressed the importance of neutrality and impartiality in the public service and urged public officers to provide political leaders with objective and honest advice in the interest of good governance.
