Date: 2018-01-11

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ALHAJI (DR.) ABDULFATAH AHMED, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SWEARING-IN OF TEN APPOINTED PERMANENT SECRETARIES, INTO THE KWARA STATE CIVIL SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Courtesies:

I give due gratitude to Almighty Allah for giving us yet another opportunity to swear-in a new set of Permanent Secretaries. This occasion, coming for the third time in the life of this administration, is indicative of the dynamic nature of the Kwara State Civil Service.

It is equally a confirmation of our preparedness to respond positively to such dynamism for the benefit of the service and in the interest of the people.

Let me, therefore, congratulate the new permanent secretaries on their well-deserved appointments. I also felicitate with family members, friends and well wishers gathered here today to rejoice with you.

Our ten new permanent secretaries are adjudged to possess the qualification, knowledge, and experience to deliver on the responsibilities of their new offices.

Considering the position of the State today, we require the service of diligent and committed Senior Civil Servants such as yourselves to lead the Service, and champion government policies for the comfort and benefit our people.

Having been sworn-in, it is incumbent on you to justify the confidence reposed in you by the Government and the good people of Kwara State.

You must see your appointments as opportunities to serve and to contribute your quota to the development of Kwara State. You must do this with zeal and commitment to make indelible contributions to the development of the state.

As we are all no doubt aware, the Civil Service is the engine room of the Government. This is because it plays pivotal roles in ensuring that Government policies and programmes are implemented to the letter.

Our implicit confidence in the Civil Service, therefore, informed our huge investment in capacity development and infrastructure to create the appropriate environment for the attainment of this administration's development goals.

I make bold to state that this approach has paid off handsomely as services are now provided to the public with the principles of promptness, equity and fairness in mind.

As Permanent Secretaries, you should reciprocate this good gesture by providing quality leadership in your Ministries, Departments and Agencies of posting. You should ensure staffers have equal opportunity in the process of implementing the policies and programmes of Government.

You must also relate well with the Commissioners and avoid rancor and other ills that could slow down the work of Government. Equally, you must ensure that the junior colleagues are carried in all operations of your MDAs to ensure inclusiveness and greater sense of belonging.

Perhaps, it is expedient to mention that this administration has zero tolerance for corruption and wastage. It is therefore incumbent on you to inculcate due process, prudence, accountability and transparency in all your operations. This administration will frown at infractions in whatever form and treat such with all the seriousness it deserves.

Additionally, you are coming on board at a time of resource constraints occasioned by contractions in the national economy. At the same time, our people’s expectations of government grow daily. These call for greater resourcefulness on our parts to meet these expectations in a timely and equitable manner. Our government and people have high hopes in the civil service. Given the caliber of men and women in our service today, I have no doubt that we will deliver.

With these remarks, I, once again, congratulate you on your appointments. I wish you the very best, believing that, together, we shall uplift our state.

Thank you all and God bless.

Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed,

Executive Governor,

Kwara State,

Ilorin,

10th January, 2018