Oyo Governor says 80 per cent of selection was merit-based, promises another qualifying examination before leaving office
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has sworn in four newly appointed permanent secretaries to fill vacancies in the state’s top civil service cadre, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to merit, fairness and inclusiveness in public service appointments.
The swearing-in ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, followed what the governor described as a transparent and competitive selection process aimed at strengthening the leadership of the state civil service and ensuring equitable representation across Oyo State.
Speaking after the appointees took their oaths of allegiance and office, Governor Makinde said his administration would remain focused on governance and service delivery until its final day in office, rather than allowing political activities to distract it from its responsibilities.
According to a statement issued in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, the governor 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.”
Makinde explained that the selection process involved a competitive examination, with 80 per cent of the appointments determined by merit and the remaining 20 per cent reserved for balancing considerations to promote equity, inclusiveness and fair representation across the state.
“The process that produced the new permanent secretaries was fair and transparent.
“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 took steps to address the imbalance and ensure that all zones were represented at the highest level of the civil service.
He stressed that his government was committed to ensuring that no part of the state was excluded from appointments, noting that Oyo State’s commonwealth belonged to all its people.
Makinde maintained that the appointments were not influenced by personal sentiments, political considerations or external pressures but were based on a fair process designed to reflect the diversity of the 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,” the governor said.
Makinde reiterated that the appointees had earned their positions after fulfilling the prescribed requirements, including successfully completing the qualifying examination.
He also said his administration would be remembered for appointing the highest number of permanent secretaries through a competitive examination process.
The governor disclosed that another qualifying examination would be conducted before the end of his tenure, with the outcome to be made available to the incoming administration for consideration.
“I will conduct another examination before I leave office and leave the outcome on the table for the incoming administration. On behalf of all of us, we congratulate you and wish you the very best in your new roles. We also ask for God’s guidance as you assume these new positions,” he added.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; former Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu; President of the Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice T. M. Abdulganiyu; and Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde.
Others present included the Chief of Staff, Akinwole Akinwale; Head of Service, Adenike Fashina; immediate past Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; Deputy Chief of Staff, Kazeem Adeniyi; Alliance Peoples Movement Deputy Governorship Candidate, Mufutau Open-Salawu; commissioners; the Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties; Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Oyo State, Sikiru Sanda; permanent secretaries; labour union leaders; religious leaders and other stakeholders.