The governor of Ondo state, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has hailed workers as the driving force behind the state’s development.
Aiyedatiwa said their resilience, commitment, and integrity had been central to the successes recorded under the present administration in the state.
Speaking at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade in Akure on Thursday, the governor described civil servants as “the hands that build, the minds that innovate, and the hearts that care,” emphasising that no government achievement was possible without their sacrifice.
“Our modest gains in office have only been possible because of your hard work across all sectors. From schools and hospitals to ministries and agencies, you are the true engine of governance,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, rolling out a list of interventions, including the prompt implementation of the new minimum wage law.
Aiyedatiwa said he was not only among the first governors to adopt the N70,000 benchmark but went a step further by raising the state’s minimum wage to N73,000.
He also noted that retirees now received a monthly pension award of N30,000.
The governor further highlighted the administration’s focus on career growth, with promotions up-to-date and the 2025 exercise already underway.
He also pointed to significant recruitments across education, health, and public administration including over 2,000 new teachers as part of efforts to strengthen critical sectors, as well as payment of three years backlog of gratuities for retired public servants and local government workers.
“As we continue in the journey of our administration, I want our workers to be rest assured of the patronage and protection of the state government.
“We shall not sacrifice the welfare of our workers on the altar of politics. Our administration will always strive, within the limits of its resources, to ensure that workers welfare are given priority consideration”.