Get Guardian on GoogleOyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to merit-based appointments, fairness and inclusiveness in the public service, saying he will sustain the policy until the end of his tenure.
The governor stated this on Tuesday while swearing in four newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to fill vacancies in the state’s top civil service cadre at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Makinde said the appointments followed a transparent and competitive process designed to strengthen the leadership of the state civil service while ensuring equitable representation across the state.
Speaking shortly after the appointees took their oaths of allegiance and office, the governor said his administration would remain focused on governance and service delivery until its last day in office, despite political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said, “When I said to the people of Oyo State that we will serve them until the last moment of the last day, this is exactly what we’re talking about. We won’t, because we’re campaigning all over the place, forget our responsibilities to the people of Oyo State.”
Explaining the selection process, Makinde said 80 per cent of the appointments were determined by merit through competitive examinations, while the remaining 20 per cent was used for balancing considerations to promote equity, inclusiveness and fair representation.
“I can say boldly that the process of your becoming Permanent Secretaries has been fair. After taking 80 per cent based on merit, there is 20 per cent that we always use to balance things out,” he said.
The governor recalled that when he assumed office in 2019, there was no Permanent Secretary from the Ibarapa Zone, adding that his administration had taken deliberate steps to address the imbalance and ensure equitable representation across the state.
He stressed that no zone should be excluded from representation at the highest level of the civil service, noting that the state’s commonwealth belonged to all its people.
Makinde said the appointments were not influenced by personal sentiments, political considerations or external pressures but were based on a transparent process that reflected the diversity of Oyo State.
He charged the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to uphold their oaths of office by demonstrating fairness, integrity, diligence and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“You have taken an oath to be fair and just to all the people you interact with and in all the files that will pass through your tables. I give you the assurance that until the last day I leave this seat, we will give you all the support that you require to do your work effectively,” he said.
The governor reiterated that the appointees had earned their positions through merit and due process, having successfully completed the prescribed requirements, including the qualifying examination.
He added that his administration would be remembered for appointing the highest number of Permanent Secretaries through a competitive examination process.
Makinde also disclosed that another qualifying examination would be conducted before the end of his tenure, with the outcome left for the incoming administration to consider.
“I will conduct another examination before I leave office and leave the outcome on the table for the incoming administration,” he said, congratulating the appointees and wishing them success in their new responsibilities.
