By John Odunayo
There were celebrations among civil servants in Ekiti State on Monday as four of them were officially elevated to the level of permanent secretaries.
The new permanent secretaries were Mrs. Funke Ajibola, Mr Michael Boluade, Mr Foluso Akinwumi, and Mr Rotimi Akomolede.
The joy in the families of the four top officials and in their different communities knew no bounds.
The smiles on the faces of the spouses of the four new permanent secs and the celebration mood that their friend and kinsmen were in gave a tip of what would happen in their different extended families and communities after they took the oath of office.
Among dignitaries and officials on the occasion where Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, swore in the four new Perm Secs in the state civil service, were the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Komolafe; members of state executive council, body of permanent secretaries, and traditional rulers among others.
Oyebanji congratulated them on their appointment.
The governor said, “I am so happy that today’s exercise is a product of a merit-based examination process and not as a result of man-know-man. I am also happy that people can become Permanent Secretaries without knowing anybody. I am so glad and proud of myself that this is happening.
The Governor, who noted that the appointment was a continuation of the last competitive examinations for both the State and the Local Government held in 2023, urged them to see themselves as “managers of human and material resources of government.”
The governor said, “You must therefore be committed to probity, transparency and prudence, especially at a time like this. As human resource managers, you will be expected to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, confidence building, and collective responsibility.
“You should be a leader who inspires others and a solution provider. You must also embrace innovation and technology.
“In the next few months, this administration will be two years in office, we therefore need to run faster than we have been; accordingly, all permanent secretaries must double up and increase the tempo of service delivery to achieve the shared prosperity agenda of government as it relates to their ministries, departments and agencies”, he said.
In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Komolafe, expressed his appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for allowing him to serve.
Komolafe also commended him for his various welfare packages for civil servants which have bettered the lives of workers in the state as he lifted the bar of civil servants in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the new permanent secretaries, Mr Boluade thanked the governor for the appointment, assuring that they will remain committed to developing the state as he commended the Governor for ensuring that all appointments during his administration were merit-based.
