Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, mni, has disclosed that the present administration in the State has uplifted the civil/public service in the State to higher level.

In a statement issued and signed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by the Media Officer, Abiodun Atilola, she said the State Government has sponsored civil servants to courses at national and international levels.

She mentioned courses to include those at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru and the National Institute for Security Study (NISS), Abuja, as well as short time courses in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Senegal  amongst others, to boost their intellectual and administrative prowess.

The Head of Service said Governor Seyi Makinde instituted the merit award to be an annual event to encourage people who have performed meritoriously for the year to be rewarded.

She said, “When Governor Makinde assumed duty in 2019, he said the salary of the civil servants was low and that he would do something about it and he has done it, as a matter of facts, salary of Oyo State Civil Servants are far better than some States of the federation.”

She added that Governor Makinde is a worker-friendly-governor that believes civil service is his constituency to the extent that when other States are paying N70,000 minimum wage, he said Oyo State workers would not earn anything less than N80,000 which all the workers have been benefiting from since January, 2025.

The Governor also  upwardly reviewed the housing and car loans for the civil servants.

“The Governor felt that terminal grade level for civil servants from Grade Level 16 to 17 is long over due and in January 2020  approved that all qualified officers in the Civil/Public Service should have their terminal  promotion grade moved from  Grade Level 16 to 17 which  is being enjoyed till date”, she said.

The Head of Service added that it was a ground breaking record for the present administration in the State to have 45 Permanent Secretaries appointed across the critical sectors of the State like the Mainstream, Education, Health and Local Government Service to take Governance to the grassroot and   provide better service delivery to the people of the State.

She hinted further that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Mankinde, has paid pension and gratuities on a regular basis as well as paid the 13th month salary to both serving and retired workers.

The Governor also approved an increase in the hazard allowance for the members of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency and approved the commencement of same to officers and men of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Agency for them to perform their duties optimally.

The Head of Service then enjoined civil servants across the State to do their best to uplift the system and contribute their quota to the development of the State for the benefit of the masses.

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni mni, has said that the present administration would continue with the capacity development programmes for civil servants in the State.

She stated this during the induction/training programme organized by the Office of the Head of Service held at the Local Government Service Training Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan.

She said over Five Thousand Senior and management staff have benefitted from local, national, and international training programmes since the inception of the current Government to enable them to attain best practices in governance and social-economic development.

The Head of Service commended Governor Seyi Makinde on the recruitment of about 23,000 workers in the State Civil/Public Service, rapid infrastructural developments, enforcement of rule of law, peace and security and the recent appointment of forty-five (45) Permanent Secretaries at one fell swoop are unprecedented.

Mrs Olubunmi Oni enjoined all Civil/Public Servants in the State to reciprocate these gestures through dedication, unalloyed loyalty and maximum cooperation towards swift realization of various laudable policies and programmes embedded in the Omituntun 2.0 Roadmap for Sustainable Development of the State.

She admonished the newly recruited and converted officers as well as serving officers to embrace hard work, honesty, punctuality and dedication to work, urging them to see their appointment as a very rare gesture from God and the present Government in the State.

She said “I congratulate you and also admonished you to abide by the oath of office which you swore to in the course of this 2-day capacity programme by ensuring that public interest is placed above personal interest as you navigate through the journey of the State Civil Service”.

She added that the present administration in the State under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde is building a dynamic and virile public service where officers can compete favourably with their peers across the globe.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the office of the Head of Service admonished all the participants to be loyal and dedicated at their various duty posts.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamorudeen Aderibigbe urged the newly recruited officers to familiarize themselves with the use of applications of the Public Service Rules and Regulations.

Abiodun Atilola
Media Officer to the SSG/HOS

“Overall, Governor Makinde has, through the series of recruitments, demonstrated a commitment to merit, excellence and inclusivity, ensuring that the best candidates are selected to serve the people of Oyo State.”

Notably and without equivocation, Governor Seyi Makinde has performed exceedingly well in the delivery of his campaign promises in virtually all sectors. This is the case most especially in the area of employment and job creation.

From his first term of office, the Governor made it clear that aside from the four service point agenda of education, security, health and economic expansion, his administration would focus on reducing the unemployment rate in the State.

Throughout his first four years, the Governor lived true to his words with various policies implemented towards empowering the teeming youths of the State. Aside from the recruitment of 7,000 teachers into public secondary schools in 2020, the Governor introduced the Youth Entrepreneurs in Agribusiness Programme, which saw thousands of Oyo State youths sponsored for all kinds of training in agriculture and agribusiness practices at the CSS Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State.

If the first term of Governor Makinde presented job opportunities to youths, the second term has even been better. The transformation agenda embarked upon by Makinde’s administration on improving the lives of Oyo State youths and their family members have reflected in different forms of job recruitments undertaken by the Government since the Governor’s re-election.

The Governor began with the education sector, where he approved the recruitment of about 20,000 teaching and non-teaching staff into public primary and secondary schools. Among the non-teaching staff categories recruited by the State Government are caregivers, who will provide care and support to learners, clerical officers, assistant executive officers, data processors/confidential secretaries, guards and messengers.

The wholesomeness of the recruitment into the public education sector means that public schools in the State will start giving private schools a run for their money in the not-too-distant time.

In all these recruitments, the Governor not only gave an express instruction for people living with disabilities to be factored into the exercises, he ensured that the instruction was followed to the letter with over 500 people with special needs employed into the primary and secondary schools.

Through these recruitments, the Governor has, no doubt, lived up to the cognomen of Oyo State as a Pacesetter State, with the transparency and probity introduced to recruitment into the education sector in the State proving to be a model for other States.

The Governor was able to achieve an unprecedented and exemplary feat in public recruitment through the experienced hands that he chose to man the different arms of the education sector and the civil service commission. From the Honourable Commissioner, Professor Salihu Adelabu, a professor of Finance and Public Management with a strong background in education, to the chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran, a Ph.D holder and former lecturer in Education, to the chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe, a retired teacher as well as Pastor Akin Alamu, the former TESCOM chairman, a well-experienced administrator, Governor Makinde’s penchant for putting round pegs in round holes has paid off greatly in the recent spate of merit-based employments into different Ministries, Departments, Agencies and schools in the State.

Relatively speaking, the Oyo State’s education sector has witnessed a significant development, with a significant milestone that will certainly revitalise the education sector in the State. Apart from addressing the shortage of qualified teachers and other hands in the State’s education sector, the effort is also expected to improve the standard of education and further improve Oyo State students’ performance in national examinations.

For years, Governor Makinde has always declared that he is here to reposition the education sector and rebuild the State through improved education quality. The massive recruitment of teachers is a testament to that commitment to providing quality education to the people of Oyo State, as the new teachers will surely help to improve the teacher to students’ ratio, enhance the learning experience, and ultimately contribute to better academic outcomes.

With this development, the Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its dedication to investing in the future of its citizens and providing them with the necessary education needed to expand the economy of the State and boost individual lives.

Apart from the education sector, the Government also embarked on the recruitment of thousands of residents into the mainstream civil service and the local governments.

The recruitment processes were rigorous, involving a computer-based test (CBT) and a comprehensive evaluation of candidates’ qualifications.

The Oyo State Civil Service Commission recently recruited over 900 candidates into the commission and they have collected their appointment letters, while the State also completed the conversion of over 1,500 ad-hoc staff of the 33 local government councils in the State to permanent staff.

Overall, Governor Makinde has, through the series of recruitments, demonstrated a commitment to merit, excellence and inclusivity, ensuring that the best candidates are selected to serve the people of Oyo State.

Oyo State can boast of having witnessed a significant improvement in its recruitment processes under Governor Makinde’s administration, as the processes were a complete departure from the status quo of previous administrations sharing employment letters at political rallies.

In Oyo State of today, recruitment exercises have been transparent, fair, and merit-based, leading to best candidates being selected for various positions. For this, Nigerians have continued to praise Governor Makinde’s administration for its efforts in reforming the recruitment process, making it more inclusive and prioritising the needs of the people. Certainly, Governor Makinde has not only been setting the unprecedented record of overseeing the largest recruitments into civil/public service, he has been showing the rest of Nigeria how best to conduct public recruitments. One hopes that States and even the Federal Government will learn to make recruitments less opaque and more people-centred.

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni has urged retired Permanent Secretaries, Executive Secretaries and General Managers in the State to continue to make positive impacts for the growth and development of the State.

She stated this during the send-off ceremony for Permanent Secretaries, Executive Secretaries and General Managers who retired from the Civil/Public Service from January to December, 2024 and end of the year get-together held at the Danest Hotel and Suites Bodija, Ibadan.

She pointed out that the retired Accounting Officers have played a pivotal role in advancing the State’s progress through their exceptional commitments and sacrifices.

She said, “Your perseverance and commitment have significantly shaped the Oyo State Civil/Public Service, leaving an indelible mark on the institution, we are proudly grateful for your contributions and wish you a joyful retirement”.

The Head of Service advised Civil/Public Servants in the State to foster unity and growth among themselves, hinting that, the present Administration in the State under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde has created an environment where all Civil Servants could excel.

The Chairman of the Occasion and the immediate past Head of Service, Mrs. Ololade Agboola commended Mrs. Olubunmi Oni’s leadership and administrative prowess for keeping the flag flying by continuing to celebrate the retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State.

Mrs Agboola charged the serving Permanent Secretaries in the State to build and encourage their subordinates to be more productive in the service.

The guest lecturer. Dr. Ikeoluwa Moody advised the retired Permanent Secretaries to plan their retirement very well and set goals for life after retirement.

Dr. Moody said it is important for the retirees to set a road map for comfortable life after service and take good care of their health.

Abiodun Atilola

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni has charged Accounting Officers across the Ministries Departments and Agencies to adopt the modern technological innovations within their Ministries to modernize service delivery and keep pace with the global standards.

She stated this during a one-day workshop on performance improvement for effective and efficient service delivery for the Permanent Secretaries and other Accounting Officers in the Oyo State Civil/Public Service, organized by the office of the Head of Service at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.

She said service delivery was  a strategic pillar not only for development but also for optimizing the manpower under the Accounting Officer’s supervision with an articulated development plan that resonates with social – economic goals.

The Head of Service said digital tools can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, improve data management and provide innovative solutions to daily challenges.

She said, “I am confident that by embracing technology, we can significantly enhance efficiency, reduce errors and ensure faster service delivery to the citizen of Oyo State, I urge you all Permanent Secretaries and Accounting Officers to champion the adoption of these technologies within your MDA’s to modernize our service delivery”.

She enjoined the participants to transform the knowledge garnered from the workshop for the development of the Civil Service.

Mrs Oni added further that to drive performance improvement in the State Civil Service, Permanent Secretaries and Accounting Officers must develop work plans align with the vision of Governor Seyi Makinde Omititun 2.0 Sustainable Development Agenda which aimed to create a conducive working  environment for all Civil Servants.

The guest lecturer, Dr. Toyin Adeleye in his paper titled “Doing More with less: Optimizing resources for maximum impact in the Oyo State Civil/Public Service”  commended Governor Seyi Makinde for prioritizing the workers welfare across Oyo State.

Dr. Adeleye described the Oyo State Civil Servants as the best in Nigeria with intellectual capacity and administrative prowess for development in the State.

Abiodun Atilola

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS

The Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni has urged Civil Servants across the State to participate more in sporting activities, saying that, it will give them more energy to perform their duties optimally.

She stated this during a football competition as part of the activities lined up for the 2024 Public Service Week held at the Ikolaba High School Stadium, Agodi-GRA, Ibadan.

She said the purpose of the competition is to bring together Civil Servants across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to play games together and know each other better.

She said “the football competition would sharpen their skills and knowledge, it is not about winning the game by all means, it is about participation to make the 2024 Public Service Week a robust one’.

She continued, “I encourage you all to participate in other available sporting activities like Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis, Boxing, Volleyball, among others who know who will make the public service proud tomorrow”.

She expressed satisfaction over the results of the games played so far saying that, the participation was so overwhelming across the MDAs, just as she frowned against the use of the mercenaries at the ongoing public Service football competition.

The Head of Service called on Civil Servants across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to always come as a spectator to encourage their teams and gear them up to victory at the Ikolaba High School Stadium, Ibadan.

In his remarks, the Chairman -Sub Committee on Sport, Mr Lukman Muraina commended players across the MDAs for their fair play since the beginning of the competition.

Abiodun Atilola

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS for the Planning Committee

The Chairman Planning Committee for the 2024 Public Service Week, Mrs. Christiana Abioye has disclosed that the committee organized Sport Competition for Ministries Department and Agencies to bring out the best from the State work force.

She stated this during the official opening of the sport competition to commence the 2024 Civil/Public Service Week at the Ikolaba Grammar School, Agodi GRA, Ibadan.

Abioye said “we are so blessed in Oyo State as all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and we are not dull in Oyo State, we are very smart, we need to Oil our engine, we need to exercise our body, when you exercise your body, your brain will be very sharp, it will make our staff to discharge their duties as expected that is why we included sport competition as part of the weeklong programme which is the first of its’ kind “.

She added that the football competition game is not going to be a do or die affair, though at the end of the competition, the winner would be motivated.

She hinted further that it was a win -win game among Civil Servants to mark the 2024 Public Service Week.

The Chairman Planning Committee opined that out of Seventeen (17) MDA’s, Eleven (11) registered for the game for the first time the football competition was incorporated into the weeklong programme.

She then commended Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the 2024 Public Service Week, saying that, the Governor is a talk and do Governor.

Also speaking at the football competition, the Sub-Committee Chairman also doubled as the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Local Government Pension Board Mr. Muraina said the football competition among the MDA’S at the end of the game would produce a standard team for the State Civil Service that can stand to partake in Sport Competition across the country.

Muraina explained that the on-going Public Service competition would produce the Civil Service team, (Best, 11.) that can face any Football Club in Nigeria, through the support of Governor Seyi Makinde and the State Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, mni.

Abiodun Atilola

Media Officer to the SSG/HOS for the Planning Committee