Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has sworn in Segun Odusanya as the new head of service.

At the swearing-in of Mr Odusanya as the 17th HoS in Akure on Monday, the governor charged him with championing reforms, professionalism, and efficiency in the state civil service.

The governor, who described the appointment as a significant moment of institutional renewal and continuity in governance, noted that the civil service remained the engine room of government.

He said Mr Odusanya’s appointment was based strictly on merit, seniority, competence and integrity, without any political consideration.

According to him, the HoS must see his appointment not as a personal achievement but as a call to greater responsibility in advancing the effectiveness of the public service.

“No administration can rise above the capacity, discipline and efficiency of its public service.

“The public service remains the bridge between policy conception, implementation and impact, translating government vision into measurable outcomes for the people,” he said. 

Mr Aiyedatiwa said his administration had prioritised the welfare and productivity of civil servants through regular payment of salaries and pensions, promotions, capacity-building programmes and improved working conditions.

He added that the government had also addressed personnel shortages in critical sectors such as health, education, agriculture, judiciary, security and revenue generation through strategic recruitment.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to building a professional, technology-driven, accountable and innovative public service capable of meeting contemporary governance challenges.

Mr Aiyedatiwa urged the new HoS to promote merit, discipline and excellence while discouraging excessive bureaucracy that could hinder policy implementation.

“You must be a guardian of administrative ethics, a champion of professionalism and a driver of reforms that will further position our civil service among the best in Nigeria.

“Teamwork, efficiency, transparency, integrity and patriotism must remain the defining character of the service at all times,” he said.

The governor also expressed appreciation to the immediate past head of service, Bayo Philip, for his contributions to the development of the state civil service.

Responding, Mr Odusanya appreciated the governor for finding him worthy of the appointment.

Mr Odusanya assured that he would continue to build a civil service which was merit-driven, technologically responsive, globally competitive, disciplined, innovative, resilient, and professionally robust.

He said, “I will also ensure that under his watch, the workforce will embrace continuous improvement and position them to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

“Your administration has fostered an unprecedented level of collaboration between the political leadership and the bureaucracy, creating a conducive environment for productivity and service delivery.

“Your commitment to workers’ welfare is evident in the regular payment of salaries and allowances, timely promotions, and the appointment of an unprecedented number of permanent secretaries, among others.

“A modern public service cannot thrive without continuous learning. We shall prioritise training and capacity development for officers at all levels, particularly in digital literacy, leadership, policy implementation, and emerging technologies. Training shall no longer be viewed as a privilege but as a strategic necessity.”

(NAN)