Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The 9th substantive Head of Service in Ekiti State, Barrister Bamidele Àgbède has said that the administration of Kayode Fayemi Was a positive turnaround for civil servants in the State with various programs and welfare packages meant for self development and good operation.
Barrister Àgbède at a Public Service Forum to mark the fourth anniversary/Valedictory of Dr Fayemi and the 10th edition of Fountain Bureaucrat tagged “Finishing Well” yyyxrtrrexplained the administration of JKF allowed the generality of the Public Servants to achieve their dreams through various appointments into the upper echelon without bias as well as the ongoing efforts and reforms towards achieving a 21st-century Public Service.
According to him:
“The five Pillars of the JKF-2 administration speak volumes. It was a promise made and a promise kept. The administration rested on the pillars of Governance, Social Investment, knowledge Economy, Infrastructure and Industrial Development, and Development of Agriculture which came with a very simple ideology at the formative stage but was indeed apt at this crucial time in the development of Ekiti State.
The Public Service was at the centre of the agenda and indeed, its driving force which was reflected in Governance. This accorded the civil servants, usually referred to as the engine room of government, a participatory role. No wonder Your Excellency always accord priority to the regular prompt payment of workers salary.
Not that alone, despite the economic challenges facing the Nation and the State in particular, you increased the allocation of gratuity to retirees from 10m to 100m. It is on record your Excellency, that between 2018 and 2022, the total gratuities paid to retirees in the State amount to three billion, seventy-two million, six hundred and eighteen thousand, five hundred and ninety-eight thousand and fifty-six naira (N3,072,618,598.56) only for 1,175 beneficiaries.
This is commendable compared to what happened before now. I equally appreciate Your Excellency for the approval and payment of the N30,000 new minimum wage and consequential adjustment of salary up to Grade Level 13. It is also on record that since the inception of your administration, there have been regular payments of monthly salaries. In addition to that, workers have enjoined the disbursement of car loans and housing loans on regular basis since 2018 till date. Your Excellency, we are grateful.
Worthy of mention too is the merit-based recruitment system of which 2,326 qualified applicants were recruited into various Agencies across the State with the approval of promotion of about thirty-one thousand and seventy-seven (31,077) Ekiti workers with the implementation of the financial implication of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 promotions to boost the morale of the affected workers. You also approved the conversion and advancement of two thousand, four hundred and seventy-four (2,474) workers in various personnel regulatory agencies that had stagnated for a very long time to aid their career progression.
We are using this medium to appreciate you as a visionary and creative leader, who, despite the economic doldrums that your administration passed through, did not lay off any worker but ensured that the salaries were paid as and when due. In the area of capacity development for workers, we doff our cap to Your Excellency.
Your recognition of human capital development has paved the way for improved productivity in the Service. To this end, about sixteen thousand and ninety-three (16,093) public servants of different categories and cadres were trained both locally and internationally for effective service delivery.
You have equally improved the working condition of the entire workers by completing three secretariat office complexes and equipping them as well. The third one was recently commissioned by you for SUBEB use. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to inform you that Mr Governor has just approved the naming of the Secretariat Complex buildings after the retired Heads of Service in the State. This singular act is further recognition of the meritorious service of our revered and seasoned Bureaucrats as well as encouragement to serving officers to continue in diligent service”.
The Head of Service assured the workers in the state that the incoming administration of Biodun Oyebanji would build more on the development foundation laid by the outgoing Governor, calling on them to replicate the high level of commitment and loyalty given to the administration of Kayode Fayemi.