The Ondo State Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, has urged public servants in the state to embrace digital transformation, strengthen accountability and improve service delivery to promote good governance.
He said the public service must move beyond routine administrative activities to a result-oriented system capable of translating government policies and programmes into tangible benefits for the people.
Odusanya made the call during the 2026 Public Service Week lecture held at the International Culture and Event Centre, The Dome, Alagbaka, Akure., where stakeholders examined the role of the public service in promoting good governance.
He said the theme of the celebration, “Harnessing Public Service to Promote Good Governance,” underscored the need for a competent, ethical and professional workforce to support government policies and drive sustainable development.
According to him, good governance thrives on professionalism, transparency, accountability, efficiency and respect for the rule of law.
He noted that rising public expectations and rapid technological advancement had made it necessary for the state’s public service to adopt innovative approaches to administration and service delivery.
The Head of Service urged ministries, departments and agencies to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and embrace digital solutions to improve efficiency and ensure the effective use of public resources.
“The effectiveness of the public service is measured not merely by the activities we undertake, but by the positive differences our work makes in the lives of the citizens,” he said.
Odusanya stressed that every public servant, irrespective of rank or position, had a responsibility to uphold integrity, discipline and professionalism while contributing to the development of Ondo State.
He also called for continuous learning, effective leadership and innovation, noting that the demands of modern governance required public servants to remain responsive to the needs of citizens.
The Head of Service said the state government had continued to introduce measures aimed at improving workers’ welfare and strengthening institutional development.
He listed regular payment of salaries, recruitment of personnel, filling of vacant positions, capacity development programmes, support for retirees and the harmonisation of salaries for permanent secretaries and other staff among the initiatives.
Other interventions, he said, included the payment of terminal examination fees for children in public primary and secondary schools and the state’s health insurance scheme.
Odusanya expressed appreciation to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for what he described as the administration’s attention to workers’ welfare and professional advancement.
He, however, emphasised that improved welfare should be matched by greater dedication, discipline and responsible management of public resources.
According to him, the state’s public service is committed to strengthening institutional capacity, promoting evidence-based decision-making, improving collaboration among government agencies and adopting modern administrative practices.
He urged public servants to regard the celebration as an opportunity to renew their commitment to duty, protect the integrity of public institutions and treat citizens with fairness and dignity.
The Head of Service also highlighted the importance of the anniversary lecture, panel discussion and award presentation featured in the celebration.
He said the lecture and panel discussion would provide opportunities to examine ways of strengthening institutional effectiveness and service delivery, while the recognition of outstanding public servants and organisations would encourage integrity, innovation and dedication.
Odusanya congratulated the award recipients and urged them to sustain the standards that earned them recognition.
He commended the organisers, stakeholders and public servants who contributed to the success of the celebration, expressing hope that the discussions would translate into practical improvements across ministries, departments and agencies.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the state’s public service to supporting government priorities and building a responsive, efficient and citizen-focused system capable of advancing sustainable development.
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