By Ayodele Abere
In his bid to further strengthen the Civil Service for better productivity, the present administration in Ekiti State under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has appointed through transparent and merit based competitive process, fifteen new Permanent Secretaries, Statistician-General, Surveyor-General, Secretary of the Audit Service Commission and Auditor-General of the Local Government.
The State Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Komolafe made this known while addressing journalists at a press conference organised in commemoration of the year 2023, Civil Service Week held in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
While speaking, Engr. Komolafe stated that, 1,500 Primary School Teachers, 510 Secondary School Teachers, 220 Non-Teaching Staff, 107 Special Schools Staff Members comprising 91 Junior and 16 Senior, 131 Technical Colleges Staff Members which comprises 56 Junior and 75 Senior, 150 Security Guards, 287 Junior Civil Servants, 161 Senior Civil Servants, 35 Staff Members in the State Electricity Board, 78 in Hospitals Management Board have been appointed with 20 Sign Language Interpreters and employment of People With Disabilities (PWDs) to underscore inclusive government.
Rolling out other achievements, the Head of Service said, 420 Civil Servants have benefited from Car Loan amounting to N130, 700,000.00, 1,634 have enjoyed Housing Loan amounting to N221,335,000.00, 337 Teachers have benefited from Car Loan amounting to N140,000.00, 630 Teachers have benefited from Housing Loan amounting to N117,000.00 and recapitalisation of the Local Government Loans Board for the benefit of the Local Government workers in the State. Engr. Komolafe explained.
The HoS noted that the Governor has also demonstrated unwavering commitment to building the 21st Century Civil Service by leveraging on the ICT as it is presently working on gradual digitisation of government business in order to emplace better probity and efficient service delivery
Civil Service Week is an annual celebration in Nigeria, in consonance with the 1999 Tangler Declaration by Aftrican Ministers for Public Service, which is set aside for the celebration of African Public Service Day (APSD) to acknowledge the values of the Service to the country. It offers a platform for Government to appreciate and recognise the commitment of civil servants in the implementation of policies and programmes.
The week long event which commenced on Monday, 18th December, 2023 will be rounded off with thanksgiving service at the Government House Chapel on Sunday, 24th December, 2023.