Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pledged that his administration would run an all-inclusive, open and accountable government for the progress of the state.
Aiyedatiwa made the pledge at a prayer service in commemoration of the first working day in 2025 held at the governor’s office in Akure.
The governor appreciated God for the successes he was able to record in the last year of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s second term in office.
According to him, good governance was priotised, which translated to significant development in all sectors of the economy.
Aiyedatiwa said a retreat would soon be organised for top civil servants and political office holders.
According to him, the retreat is to ensure that government policy thrusts are properly distilled and actionable plans set out.
He said the expectations of the people are high and his administration must do all that is practically possible to meet them.
“In the public service, there was no incident of industrial action whatsoever in the state.
“Even in the face of the recent minimum wage negotiations, labour leaders and the entire public service showed great maturity, understanding and trust.
“It would be recalled that Ondo State was among the first set of states to show not only commitment, but pay beyond the national minimum wage benchmark of N70,000.
“As you are all aware, we owe no promotion arrears. Recruitment of officers were made into some ministries, departments and agencies where personnel deficiency had long existed.
“We do not only pay salaries and pensions regularly, the state government also commenced the payment of the new minimum wage of N73,000 to workers.
“This is aside meeting our obligations to pensioners through offsetting humongous amount from the backlog of gratuities running into billions of naira,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration had also ensured that work continued in the ongoing infrastructural projects he inherited, especially urban and rural roads.
Earlier in his sermon, Pastor Michael Ogunbayode, an elder in Seasons of Life Ministry, Lagos, said the purpose of the meeting was not only to appreciate God, but to seek his direction for the year ahead.
Ogunbayode said those who recognise the right thing to do at the right time position themselves for divine favour and alignment with God’s will.
