Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has promised to review car loans, housing loans and duty tour allowances for public servants as part of efforts to improve workers’ welfare and living standards.
The governor made the pledge during the 2026 Public Service Week celebration held at the International Centre for Culture and Events, popularly known as The Dome, along Igbatoro Road, Akure.
He also disclosed that his administration was exploring plans to provide compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses for workers to ease transportation challenges.
On pension and gratuity payments, Aiyedatiwa said his administration, having cleared gratuity arrears up to 2020, would continue to address outstanding obligations progressively, subject to available resources and established procedures.
The governor, who received an Award of Excellence in Public Service from the workers in recognition of his contributions to their welfare and capacity development, expressed appreciation for the honour.
He, however, challenged public servants to demonstrate greater accountability, professionalism, discipline, diligence and innovation to improve the quality, speed, transparency and accessibility of government services.
Aiyedatiwa described the public service as a strategic partner in governance and the principal implementer of government policies, stressing that his administration’s agenda must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
He reaffirmed his commitment to workers’ welfare, citing timely salary payments, regular promotions with financial benefits, the elevation of qualified officers to accounting officer positions, and continuous training and retraining as key interventions.
The governor also highlighted the Orange Health Insurance Scheme (ORANGHIS), which he said was supporting public servants and their dependants, with organised labour and retirees participating as partners in the initiative.
He recalled that his administration had recruited more than 2,000 teachers for public primary and secondary schools, alongside about 3,323 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses.
Aiyedatiwa further announced plans to recognise serving and retired civil servants, individuals, organisations and ministries, departments and agencies that had demonstrated exceptional dedication and performance in their official responsibilities and special assignments.
He urged workers to uphold courtesy, accountability and discipline, noting that effective governance depended on a workforce committed to quality service delivery and the preservation of public trust.
Earlier, the state Head of Service, Segun Odusanya, urged public servants to prioritise accountability, professionalism and citizens’ welfare in the discharge of their duties.
Odusanya said transparency, efficiency and respect for the rule of law were indispensable to effective public administration.
He called for the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks, accelerated digital transformation and stronger collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies to make government institutions more responsive to citizens’ needs.
The Head of Service also commended Aiyedatiwa for interventions in workers’ welfare, including salary payments, recruitment, appointments to accounting officer positions, capacity development, support for retirees, payment of terminal examination fees for children in public primary and secondary schools, and health insurance.
In his lecture titled “Harnessing Public Service to Promote Good Governance,” retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Sulaiman, proposed a comprehensive five-year reform programme to transform the public service from a routine-driven bureaucracy into a modern, results-oriented institution.
He advocated the modernisation of administrative structures, strategic deployment of personnel in line with institutional priorities, measures to bridge skills gaps and stronger collaboration across government institutions.
Those present included Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami; Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Segun Omojuwa; members of the State Executive Council; permanent secretaries; former Head of Service and chairman of the occasion, Akin Adaramola; political appointees and traditional rulers.
