Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has signed into law the supplementary budget for the year 2024 in Ondo State.
According to a statement posted on the official X account of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo chapter on Tuesday, the supplementary budget captures the payment of the N73,000 new minimum wage for the state workers.
The APC added that Aiyedatiwa did this so as to meet up with the new financial commitments of the Ondo State Government.
“This brings the total budget for 2024 to a total of N492,045,100, 000 (Four hundred and ninety-two billion, forty-five million, one hundred thousand naira). This is made up of recurrent expenditure of N246, 727, 852, 786 and capital expenditure of N245, 317, 247, 214,” the APC stated.
It added that the supplementary budget also captures the salaries of newly recruited workers across various sectors.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said the supplementary budget reflects the determination of his administration to cater for the welfare of workers and the overall development of the state.
Meanwhile, the governor on Monday assured civil servants in the state that he will not downsize the workforce no matter the level of recruitment to fill vacant positions.
While emphasising that he is not contemplating such thought, Aiyedatiwa said that the steady defrayment of inherited gratuities will continue, as well as his administration’s support for the healthcare contributory scheme.
The governor disclosed this on Monday in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the Ondo State Public Service Week Celebration Lecture with the theme ‘Creating and Managing a Future-Ready Public Service: A Pathway to Sustainable Development.’
He said: “The gradual recruitment into critical sectors of the service to address acute personnel gaps will also continue as much as practicable. I want to assure you that even with the financial burden that all of these may attract, our administration will never ever contemplate downsizing the workforce.
“In all honesty, the public service requires to be rejigged and equipped to upscale its roles and processes to meet the trends of best world practices in public administration.
“The time has come, therefore, for the service to be more proactive, innovative, dynamic, and tech-driven. The capacity of the institutions and their operators must be enhanced for effective and efficient service delivery to justify the huge resources invested in it and to serve society better.
“I have no doubt in my mind, therefore, that this forum will come with great impartation for our public servants.”
Aiyedatiwa further assured the workers of the payment of the new minimum wage, starting in November.
On his part, the Head of Service, Bayo Philip, appreciated the governor for his moral and physical support towards the welfare of public servants in the state as well as key appointments and the promotion of over five thousand and forty civil servants in the state.
Philip stressed the role of the public service in fostering forward-thinking governance and highlighted the administration’s commitment to regular salary payments, pensions, and the provision of 2024 leave bonuses.
The event featured awards of excellence to the University of Medical Science, Ondo, the State Civil Service Commission, and the state Contributory Health Insurance Scheme for outstanding performance.
