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 said the State Government has sponsored civil servants to Courses at National and International levels.
She mentioned courses 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 at 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 Workers-Friendly-Governor that believes Civil Service is his constituency to the extent that when other states are paying 70,000 minimum wage, Governor Makinde said Oyo State would not earn anything less than 80,000 which all the State workers have been benefiting from 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.
Mrs Olubunmi Oni added that it was a ground breaking record for the present administration in the State to have forty five ( 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 Engr. Seyi Mankinde FNSE 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.
