I’ll continue to reward excellence in civil service – Oyebanji

… Swears in retired Perm Sec as SA/DG, BPP

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has assured civil servants in the state that his government would not relent in rewarding officers who have distinguished themselves in the area of service delivery and impeccable integrity.

Governor Oyebanji stated this on Thursday while swearing in a former Permanent Secretary in the Ekiti State Civil Service, Mr James Folorunso as Director General/ Special Adviser Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), urging civil servants in the state to brace up by distinguishing themselves in their various MDAs assuring that their diligence would not go unrewarded.

The Governor, who spoke after the traditional oath-taking session, said Mr Folorunso got the appointment on merit, having demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity in the various positions he held before he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance last year.

The Governor said he was convinced the new appointee would bring to bear his wealth of professional experience in the different positions he held in the civil service on achieving the desired result in BPP as well as the overall development of the state.

He noted that the Bureau of Public Procurement is the heartbeat of any government, hence the need to find an appropriate person for the assignment.
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“While congratulating you, I need to stress one thing, you earned this appointment because you are a man of honour, a man of character and a child of God. Since we met during Governor Niyi Adebayo, I’ve not had any cause to doubt you, you speak true to power, in love and you don’t pretend.

“Civil servants that do well will be compensated, this is a lesson to others that when you do your work diligently, God has a way of rewarding you. You did not lobby me for this, I did not discuss it with you but I believe you are the best for the job. I just commend other people in the service, that whatever assignment we are given, let us be diligent because God is watching and people are also watching and there is going to be a reward for diligence.

“This position became vacant last year, but I couldn’t come to terms with the best way to fill it, because, the Bureau of Public Procurement is the heart of any government because it deals with contracting, it deals with price intelligence, review prices, they do a lot. So, the success or failure of any government when it comes to capital projects depends on the quality of the leadership in that office. And when your name came up, everyone applauded it as the right choice.

Responding after the swearing-in, Mr James Folorunso expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for finding him worthy of the opportunity and promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him.

Mr Folorunso, who retired from active service barely seven months ago, assured the Governor that he would work hard to deliver quality service and add value to governance in the state.

In attendance at the event were: the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro; Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun; Head of Service, Engr Sunday Komolafe and other top government officials.