By Kayode Olabanji
The Ondo State Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, has assured the management of the Ondo State Printing and Publishing Corporation (OSPPC), publishers of THE HOPE titles, of his support towards the full integration of the corporation into the state civil service.
Odusanya gave the assurance when he received the management of the corporation, led by its Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of OSPPC, Mr Kayode Fasua, on a congratulatory visit following his appointment as Head of Service.
Odusanya appreciated the management for the visit and their goodwill, assuring them that the requests would receive due consideration in line with government policies and established procedures.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of public servants and the continued development of government institutions across the state.
Earlier, Fasua congratulated Odusanya on his appointment, describing it as a well-deserved elevation earned through his integrity, competence and outstanding record in the Ondo State Civil Service.
He expressed confidence that the new Head of Service would deploy his wealth of experience to further strengthen and reposition the state’s public service.
Fasua also briefed the Head of Service on the transformation of the former Owena Press Limited into the Ondo State Printing and Publishing Corporation following the assent to the enabling law by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
According to him, the corporation’s new status necessitates its full integration into the state civil service, including the migration of workers’ salary administration to the state’s payroll system and access to pension benefits enjoyed by other public servants.
He disclosed that the corporation had formally notified relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, including the Office of the Head of Service, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, the Ministry of Finance, and the Office of the Accountant-General, of its new status.
Fasua appealed to the Head of Service to facilitate the necessary administrative processes for the seamless implementation of the corporation’s new structure.
He also sought the intervention of the Head of Service in securing running grants through the supplementary budget to enable the corporation to implement key reforms, including its plan to transform THE HOPE into a daily newspaper.
The OSPPC Chairman noted that THE HOPE remains the only surviving state-owned newspaper in Nigeria despite the collapse of many government-owned newspapers across the country.
He added that, with adequate government support, the corporation would be better positioned to generate more revenue for the Ondo State Government while strengthening its role as a credible platform for public information dissemination.
The OSPPC chairman was accompanied by the Editor, Mrs Abimbola Akindunbi; Senior Manager, Commercial Services, Mr Wale Olakunle; Administrative Officer, Mrs Fasua Oluwatosin; Chief Accountant, Mrs Omoleye Folasade; Editor, THE HOPE Magazine, Mr Segun Olatunji, and Manager, Operations, Mrs Abosede Owoyemi.