Thank you for inviting me as the guest of honour at this State of Osun Public Service Lecture to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the Inaguration of the Aregbesola-led Administration and also for the choice of our own Dr Goke Adegoroye whose pedigree is not at all in doubt as regards knowledge and practice of good management, administration and governance to deliver the lecture on the topic “Government Structure, Productivity and Efficiency in the Realisation of Political Mandate: The Challenge of Governance”. I look forward to the content of the lecture with excitement I believe that the topic is very apt particularly at this time and in the light of the challenges of good governance that we are all facing and the role expected of all of us i.e the Civil Service and the Political Office Holders. I am sure that the lecture will be very stimulating and very rewarding. I, therefore, expect all of us to listen with rapt attention and benefit maximally from it.

The book of proverbs 5:1 says “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels”. This shows that knowledge is good and beneficial to all people. If you are wise, therefore, you will ensure that you benefit from what you will hear at this lecture.

Let me congratulate the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and his government for their achievements in the last 7 years. There is no doubt that theirs is a government with a difference. The government came like a wave and with bold and dogged determination and positively turned the fortune of the State around in every facet of life. The evidences are there for discerning mind to see, particularly in the areas of road construction, education and others.

We greatly acknowledge the bold initiative and commitment of the Governor, at ensuring massive development of almost all areas of life in the State of Osun. I also thank you for your unwavering determination to positively touch all areas of the need of the people of this State since the inception of your administration. But for the drastic and unexpected fall in revenue accruing to the state, particularly from the monthly Statutory Allocation, the State of Osun will by now have witnessed even greater development.

I will not end this short goodwill message without mentioning the civil service as it is my primary constituency. I am happy that the lecture is coming just after the appointment of a new Head of Service. Permit me, therefore, to seize this opportunity to thank the Governor for the appointment of the new Head of Service and to formally congratulate our brother, Dr Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade for the appointment. We wish you brilliant success and God’s speed during your tenure.

All over the world, it is appreciated that human resource development is a veritable tool for achieving positive governmental goals. The Civil Service which is the engine for good government delivery needs to be thoroughly trained and motivated through award of appropriate reward. I urge the government of the State of Osun to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the Civil Service occupies its rightful place just as was the case in the old western region and indeed western State when their Civil Services were acclaimed as the best in the Federation.

As part of the programme for rounding up your administration’s tenure I urge Mr Governor to ensure the improvement of the staff development center, as this will go a long way in ensuring local training of the rank and file of the civil servants.

I am happy to note a statement recently credited to our governor that no government will be happy paying half salary or half pension to its staff and pensioners. The present situation in this state is no doubt a circumstance that has been forced on us and not a deliberate creation of the State government. We pray and look forward to a better time very soon when the governor will restore the payment of full salaries and pensions to all your workers and pensioners, including the arrears. On behalf of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, State of Osun, I thank the Governor, once again, for your prompt action in significantly improving the paltry pension paid to our members who retired long time ago at the inception of your administration. We know that the harmonization would have been completed by now if there has been adequate resource, as has been the case in some south west States

Mr Governor, You cannot please everybody. Just continue to be focused on the good work. I am sure that your footprint will boldly be on the sounds of time in this State. Those who do not appreciate you now will surely miss you and appreciative your good work after you leave office.

I heartily congratulate our Ogbeni and his government for their achievements for the State of Osun thus far. I also wish them even greater achievements by the end of their tenure. Let us enjoy the lecture for which we are all here present. I believe it will be impactful.

I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance. Congratulations and many thanks for listening. Chief Moses Inaolaji ABOABA