Governor, Ondo State
The decision of Arakunrin Oluwarotimj Akeredolu (SAN) led administration in Ondo State to relieve some Permanent Secretaries in the state of their positions is neither for political reasons nor to favour anybody in the state, but to give younger officers opportunity to serve.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Yemi Olowolabi.
Olowolabi also debunked ithe allegation that government took the decision to pave way for an anointed Permanent Secretary to succeed the outgoing Head of Service, Barrister Toyin Akinkuotu who retires in August this year.
The affected Permanent secretaries are:: Dr Deji Akinwalere, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. C. O. Kolawole, General Administration, Mrs T. O. Kolawole, Culture and Tourism, Gray Eshofonie, Agric Input Supply Agency, Mrs C. I. Oyebade, Commerce and Industry, Mr Francis Olu Adaramola, Local Governments Auditor General, Mr Sunday Adegoke, State Auditor General, Mr Ade Akinbosade, Local Government Service Commission and Mrs Odunayo Ketiku, Local Government Staff Loans Board.
According to the Commissioner, some of the retiring Permanent Secretaries have spent at least nine years in office as Permanent Secretaries of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government in the state,
He added that their retirements were apolitical contrary to what was rumoured in some quarters.
Olowolabi pointed out that immediately the present administration came on board, many people believed that the Head of Service and some Permanent Secretaries appointed by his predecessor would be removed, but the governor retained him.
“The government simply took the decision to allow younger officers move to the rank of the Permanent Secretary,. It is to pave way for younger officers to be appointed as PS in Ondo State.
“Most of those who are retiring now have been in that position for at least nine years, while some have been there for 13 years, 12 years, 10 years. So, that is the reason, it has nothing to do with governor paving way for anybody.
“Don’t forget that by the time the governor came on board many people thought that the Head of Service who is retiring now was going to be removed. But the governor ensured that he completes his tenure, just like many other Permanent Secretaries who had been appointed before the governor came in. So, essentially, one of the reforms put in place in the civil service”, the commissioner explained.
On the claim that the affected Permanent Secretaries have not reached their mandatory retirement age of either 60 years of age or 35 years in service, the commissioner further explained that the appointment or otherwise of the Permanent Secretaries is at the pleasure of the governor.
“The governor can appoint Permanent Secretaries and the governor can also ask them to go on retirement”, Olowolabi emphasised.
He affirmed d that their retirement was in line with extant circular in the civil service that any permanent secretary who has served for more than eight years could be retired either reaching retirement age or not.
