“I am happy someone like me who knows no body can become a Perm Sec”…Engr Oyetola

One of the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in Ogun State Civil Service, Engineer Razak Olabode Ojetola, at the moment, has reasons to be grateful to God on one hand and Governor Dapo Abiodun on the other hand.

His joy stems from a seemingly hopeless situation when he thought it was impossibility for a man like him who does not have godfather in government to make it to the peak of civil service as a permanent secretary. Oyetola who is among the newly sworn secretaries stated this at the swearing-in of eight newly appointed Permanent Secretaries at Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. 

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has ordered that the last minute appointments of Permanent Secretaries made in the twilight of the immediate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun be regularised. The Governor also directed the mainstreaming and ‘regularisation’ of appointment of over 1000 graduates recruited into the State Civil Service by the same administration. 

According to the chief press secretary to the Governor, Mr.  kunle Somorin, Abiodun said despite some flaws noted in the appointments and recruitments, his government has decided to be magnanimous as a people-centred administration not to be vindictive.

“It is important to make public that we received with great recommendations the report of the Review Committee on the Appointments and Recruitments made by the immediate past administration between February and May, 2019. “Let me state that we very much appreciate the recommendations of the Review Committee, comprising of eminent retired Public Servants, that the appointments and Recruitments were fraught with non-adherence to the principles and laid-down traditions of the public service.

“But in line with our administration’s commitment to equity, fairness, Justice and inclusiveness, we will not engage in any action or policy that may be viewed as vendatta, rather, we will call on all to continue to put in their best for the service delivery to the people of Ogun State. “Despite some flaws, we have upheld all the appointments of Permanent Secretaries made in the twilight of the last administration.”  Governor Abiodun cautioned against lobbying by civil servants to attain unmerited position, saying all the new permanent secretaries got their appointment on merit.

“I never met any of these new permanent secretaries before. I had no private discussion over who to chose. If you merit it under my watch, you will surely get your promotion as and when due”, he enthused.  The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were chosen from the directors’ cadre in the state civil service. They include Ms Fadimitu Olusola, Engr. Ojetola Razak, Mr Sodeinde Olukunle and Sotubo Olurotimi. The rest are: Orekoya Bolaji, Lukan Jubril, Benson Lateef and Sorunke Dotun.

Meanwhile, there was palpable tension among workers in Ogun State when in August last year Governor Abiodun set up a committee led by a former head of service, Chief Dipo Odulate to look into the appointment and promotion of approved by former Gov. Ibikunle Amosun between February 1 and May 28, 2019.

Amosun had in April appointed 18 permanent secretaries, barely a month to the end of his administration and also appointed over 1,000 workers into the state’s civil service, while he promoted 5,000 government workers. But Abiodun, while inaugurating the committee at his Okemosan office said the feedback received by his administration on the appointment of some people into state’s public and civil services was unsatisfactory, hence the setting up of the committee.

He noted that the state public service, renowned for its professionalism, commitment and dedication, would be provided with the right type of leadership to enable it perform optimally.

He urged the new Permanent Secretaries to see their elevation as a call to greater service to the State, adding that they are to serve as standard bearers in the State public service.  “As the Accounting Officers and Administrative Heads, you are all enjoined to make probity your watchword, and be prudent in the management of both human and material resources under your care”, he advised.

Prince Abiodun called on them to interface between the administration, public service and the general public and come up with more initiatives that would lead to the successful implementation of the administration’s ‘Building Our Future Together agenda.