The Ogun State Government has directed the State Civil Service Commission to commence the promotion process for eligible civil and public servants due for the 2025 and 2026 promotion cycles, with Governor Dapo Abiodun saying officers’ diligence, competence and years of service must be appropriately recognised and rewarded.

The Governor gave the directive on Thursday through his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, while declaring open a symposium organised as part of the grand finale of the 2026 Public Service Day celebrations at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

The symposium, themed “Transforming the Public Service: Advancing Innovation, Accountability, Participation and Inclusion,” brought together public servants, government officials, labour representatives and other stakeholders to examine the future of the state’s public service.

Abiodun commended civil and public servants across the state for their professionalism, dedication and resilience in responding to the changing demands of governance.

He described the workforce as an indispensable partner in the implementation of government policies, noting that public servants are responsible for translating policies and programmes into tangible services and interventions that affect the lives of citizens and communities.

The Governor said his administration had, since its inception, prioritised reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity while creating an environment that promotes efficiency, integrity and innovation.

According to him, innovation in the public service does not necessarily mean reinventing existing systems but can involve improving processes, simplifying procedures and adopting smarter approaches to work.

He consequently directed the Civil Service Commission to commence the promotion exercise for officers due for the 2025 and 2026 cycles.

“Diligence, competence and years of service must be appropriately recognised and rewarded as and when due,” the Governor said.

Abiodun said the theme of the symposium was particularly relevant to his administration’s Building Our Future Together Agenda and the ISEYA development pillars, stressing the need to continuously review the structures, processes and culture of the public service.

He said Ogun State had taken significant steps towards a more technology-driven public service through the deployment of digital platforms designed to improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery.

Among the initiatives highlighted were payroll automation, e-governance platforms, ICT training and other digital tools designed to equip civil servants to function effectively in a modern administrative environment.

The Governor also cited the Ogun State Enterprise Geographic Information System (OGISE) and the Land Administration and Revenue Management System (LARMS) as examples of technology-driven reforms that have improved land administration, reduced inefficiencies and enhanced revenue generation.

He noted that technology had also supported the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme in expanding access to affordable healthcare.

Abiodun stressed, however, that technology and innovation must ultimately translate into better outcomes for citizens.

He said accountability, transparency and responsiveness must remain central to the culture of the public service, adding that every government reform and policy should ultimately be assessed by its impact on the people.

The Governor commended the Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, for what he described as his effective stewardship and efforts towards promoting efficiency and discipline within the civil service.

He also appreciated Saka for aligning the public service with the administration’s development agenda and supporting the implementation of the Building Our Future Together programme.

In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Olanrewaju Saka, described the symposium theme as a reflection of the realities of modern governance and the need for continuous reforms in public service delivery.

Saka urged workers to renew their commitment to building a public service that is innovative in its thinking, accountable in its actions, participatory in governance and inclusive in service delivery.

He said deliberate efforts had been made by the state government to equip public servants with the tools, knowledge and capacity required to operate effectively in an increasingly complex governance environment.

According to him, embracing modern methodologies and promoting continuous learning would enable workers to adapt to changing circumstances, develop innovative solutions and deliver services more efficiently.

Saka described public servants as the pillars of governance and custodians of institutional integrity, saying their commitment remains critical to the successful implementation of government policies and programmes.

He thanked workers for their resilience, professionalism and dedication, describing them as the often-unseen force sustaining the machinery of government and contributing to the state’s development.

Various stakeholders at the symposium also emphasised the importance of continuous transformation of the public service.

Those who delivered goodwill messages included a retired Head of Service and former Commissioner at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Princess Iyabo Odulate; Chairman, House Committee on Establishments and Public Service, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Tella; Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Tunji Odunlami; Chairman, Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, Engr. Adeniyi Abiola; and Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Ogun State, Comrade Akeem Lasisi.

The speakers described the public service as the engine room of government and stressed the need for greater innovation, accountability, participation and inclusion in government policies and service delivery.

They also commended Ogun civil servants for their resilience, professionalism and contribution to the development of the state, urging them to maintain the standards established by previous generations of public servants.

The stakeholders appreciated Governor Abiodun for the reforms recorded in the state and for approving the 2026 Public Service Day celebrations, which they said provided an opportunity for workers to interact, relax and rejuvenate for the responsibilities ahead.

They further called for sustained training and retraining of civil servants to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to meet the demands of a rapidly changing 21st-century public service.

The commencement of the 2025 and 2026 promotion exercises is expected to provide career progression opportunities for eligible officers while reinforcing the state government’s stated commitment to rewarding competence, diligence and years of service.