Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has urged Senior Civil Servants, especially Permanent Secretaries in the State to mentor properly officers under them so that their wealth of experience could be impacted to younger ones as they retired.

Akeredolu stated this at the Year 2022 end of year get-together and send-off for Retired Permanent Secretaries organised by the State Forum of Permanent Secretaries, held at the International Event Centre, the Dome, Alagbaka Akure.

The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, congratulated the retired Permanent Secretaries, stated that they have been pivotal in keeping afloat the REDEEMED Agenda of the present administration in Ondo State.

“When people are saying government is performing, it shows that the civil servants are performing. Because there is nothing the political leadership can do without your support,” he said.

Akeredolu urged all Civil Servants in the State, especially the Permanent Secretaries to continue to share their wealth of experience with those coming behind them so that the system would be sustained.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the state so as to ensure effective service delivery.

The Governor urged the retired Permanent Secretaries to always make avail themselves whenever the system needed their wealth of experience.

In his remarks, the Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele said all the retirees contributed diligently to the growth and advancement of Ondo State just as he expressed the State Government’s appreciation and gratitude for their loyalty, commitment, dedication and untold sacrifices while in the Service.

Reminding the retirees of the need to pay attention to their personal health and wellness, the Head of Service said: “I have no doubt in my mind that you will deploy your skills, wide knowledge and extensive administrative and managerial experience garnered over the years to continue to add value to yourselves, your communities and to Ondo State as a whole”.

He said Government would continue to look forward to benefiting from their vast reservoirs of experience and knowledge, especially in policy formulation and implementation, in order to continue to move the State forward.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Chief Bunmi Alade, who is also the Chairman of Ondo State Forum for Permanent Secretaries, appreciated the Governor for the payment of both inherited and other outstanding salaries arrears in the State.

Alade, who explained that the goals and objectives of the association includes to provide welfare services to members, mobilize members in driving government policies and programs, organize lectures and seminars and engage in social orientation for members towards government programs among others.

The Chairman used the occasion to congratulate the Governor on his conferment of the award of Commander of the Niger CON by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The immediate past state HoS, Pastor Niran Adeyemo, thanked the forum on behalf of the retirees.

The event was attended by the Commissioner for Finance Mr Wale Akinterinwa, Chairman Civil service Commission, Mr Ajose Kudehinbu, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, Former Head of Service, Mrs Kosemani Kolawole and many important dignitaries.