The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Iskeel Olanrewaju Saka has been called upon to continue to uphold the tenets and qualities of the State Civil/Public Service as handed over by forebears in order to have sustained and enhanced service delivery.

The call was made by the President, Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, Ogun State Chapter, the Very Revd. Adenrele Oduwaiye, when he led the newly sworn-in executive members of the Association to the Office of the Head of Service.

According to him, the fore front enviable position that the State has attained amongst the comity of States must be retained so that the labours of the doyens of Public Service such as Late Chief Simeon Adebo, Late Chief P.T. Odumosu and Late Chief A.A.K Degun, amongst others would not go to waste.

He said the welfare, training and retraining as well as provision of relevant modern technologies must be vigorously pursued in order to keep raising the standard of performance in the Civil/Public Service. 

The Very Revd.Oduwaiye reiterated that mentorship, guidance and professional development of serving Permanent Secretaries, welfare of the Civil/Public Servants must be given priority attention while administrative preparedness and management of political transition as well as inter-agency collaboration and coordination of transition arrangements are not neglected.

He affirmed the sterling qualities of deep concern for the elderly, human life and welfare of people that the Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, radiate and commended him for  his calm and humane disposition, with a charge to him to keep up the good qualities.

The President requested that all outstanding issues including restoration of full pension parity payment to all members, payment of balance of gratuities to some of the members, amongst others be looked into.

Responding, the Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka appreciated the Body of experts and professionals who have made the Civil/Public Service proud by embedding institutional memories that will forever be cherished.

Referring to the Body as his backbone, the Head of Service assured that the cordial relationship already established will be maintained while he will keep enjoying their mentorship and leadership roles.

On the issue of outstanding pensions and gratuities raised, the Head of Service said the State Government is not relenting and appreciated the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his magnanimity at ensuring that backlogs to the tune of 10 years out of 12 years were offset, which earned the State an award recently as 'The Best Most Improved State in Pensions

 Administration'. 

He assured that with their guidance and mentorship, the ball will not drop in his hands while institutional memories would be etched in the history of the State.

Adding their voices, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo and her counterpart from the Civil Service Commission, Mr. Jola Oyeneye appreciated the forebears for their constant checks and mentorship, as the wisdom of elders cannot be undermined.

They commended them for the wealth of experience they are dishing out to the workers via training and retraining and solicited for more support, collaboration and mentorship as they keep contributing their quotas to the development of the Civil/Public Service and the State at large.

Omolara Osindele 

Office of the Head of Service