Oyebanji Prioritises Good Governance, Civil Servants’ Welfare in Ekiti.

Oyebanji Prioritises Good Governance, Civil Servants’ Welfare in Ekiti.

By Olamide Akinwumi. 

In a demonstration of commitment to transparency, accountability, and development, the administration of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) in Ekiti State has continued to build a reputation for good governance, positioning it as the first pillar of his administration.

Good governance, which refers to the effective, transparent, accountable, and ethical management of public resources and affairs, is central to every policy and initiative implemented under Governor Oyebanji's leadership. The administration’s good governance agenda not only drives development but ensures the prioritization of civil servants’ welfare, enhanced security, and adherence to global best practices in public administration.

According to the government, "Governance is what brings it all together. It is what ensures we recognise our civil servants as the main drivers of our reforms, and therefore prioritize their welfare. It keeps us working to ensure the safety and security of all residents in the state, and ensures we operate with the highest degree of accessibility and transparency.”

The administration’s governance agenda has also earned the state widespread goodwill and cooperation from critical development partners, as it strives to meet the targets of the State Development Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and other national and global priorities.

Below are some key achievements under the governance pillar of the BAO administration:

Legislative Milestones:

1. Enactment of Ekiti State Fire Service Law, 2023.

2. Enactment of Ekiti State Electricity Power Sector Law, 2023.

3. Establishment of Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau

4. Ekiti State Wealth Fund Law, 2023.

5. Ekiti State Local Government Staff Loans Board Law, 2023.

6. Ekiti State Roads Fund Law, 2023.

7. Yoruba Language Preservation and Protection Law, 2023.

8. Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law, 2024.

9. Ekiti State (Anti-Land Grabbing) Second Amendment Law, 2024.

10. High Court Law (First Amendments), 2024.

11. Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency ( EKDIPA) (First Amendments) Law, 2023.

12. Bureau of Assets Management Agency Law, 2024, and among others. 

Welfare and Financial Commitments to Civil Servants:

●N19.78 billion paid as pensions to core civil servants.

●N6.8 billion paid as gratuity to core civil servants.

●N701.83 million in car loans to civil servants.

●N417.79 million in housing loans to civil servants.

●N17.93 billion in pensions for local government workers.

●N4.02 billion in gratuity for LG workers.

●N36.2 million in car loans to LG workers.

●N384.55 million in housing loans to LG workers.

●N1.1 billion in pension arrears for July 2018.

●N172.4 million disbursed as staff housing loans

Training and Capacity Building:

●180 civil servants trained.

●Renovation of Ido, Ikere, and Ode tax stations.

●Construction of Ikole regional tax office.

●Construction of a new office complex for the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Home Affairs.

●Construction of Local Government Service Commission office.

●Procurement of office equipment and furniture for various MDAs.

Security and Infrastructure:

●Installation of security surveillance equipment at 11 locations.

●Purchase of 17 operational vehicles for Amotekun Corps.

●Repair of firefighting engines at Ekiti State Fire Service

Social and Economic Support:

●N198 million disbursed to 1,326 Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) beneficiaries.

●N250 million in palliatives for widows, unemployed youths, and persons with disabilities.

●N201 million in relief funds for disaster victims.

●N1.1 billion disbursed in Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to 44,069 citizens.

●N274.8 million in livelihood grants to 1,718 households.

●N768 million disbursed to 8,900 beneficiaries

Recognitions and Rankings:

●Ekiti ranked 1st in Subnational Audit Efficacy Index (2023).

●Ranked 3rd in the SBM Health Preparedness Index (2024).

●Listed among the only two states and the FCT to attract foreign investment in Q1 2024.

●Ranked 2nd in the BudgIT State Fiscal Transparency League (Q1 2024).

●Ranked 4th in Subnational Climate Governance Performance (2023).

●Ranked 1st in Annual Growth Rate of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) (2023)

The administration remains committed to its guiding principle: that governance must justify the trust of the people. “Above all, our good governance agenda is a reminder that we are accountable to you,” the statement adds.

With its emphasis on institutional reforms, inclusive development, and global alignment, the Oyebanji-led government continues to set a benchmark for public administration in Nigeria.