As part of measures to address the brain drain in the health sector, the Ondo State Government, yesterday, said that it has approved the recruitment of over 1,000 medical doctors and other health workers for all the state-owned hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state.

The Ondo State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Kayode Ogundele, who made this known at a press briefing in Akure to kick-start the 2023 Public Service Week in the state, hinted that the advertisement for the recruitment of these health personnel would be out as soon as possible.

His words: “Our goal is that by November we should be able to bring them on board so that they can be part of the system in order to settle this issue of ‘japa.’

“And if you have decided not to work with the Ondo State Government again, workers should be sincere and courageous enough to let the government know. Just be kind enough to give us the required notice. But we have seen cases where some officers will travel abroad and be collecting salary until there is verification of workers, particularly in the health sector.

“So we don’t want this situation again in our system. Don’t be a burden on our wage bill, because anyone who found culpable will immediately be dismissed because you have violated the terms of agreement and appointment.”

The HoS also spoke on recruitment of teachers in the state. Ogundele said: “we agreed that people are retiring in the teaching service but we will also agree that just about two years ago, government recruited about 1,200 teachers into the primary schools. While work is still ongoing for the recruitment of secondary schools teachers and I can assure you very soon something positive will be done.

“Recently, Mr. Governor approved the retirement elongation of teachers in the teaching service commission in our schools. Now, instead of retiring at the age of 60 years, teachers have been given the opportunity to retire at the age of 65 years.”

He said that the focus of this year’s Public Service Week celebration is to acknowledge and commemorate the prime place of public service in the development of African states.

He saluted the Institution and practitioners of the public service and the career officers whose roles are otherwise mistakenly taken as less important.

“The 2023 edition of the anniversary is on the theme: ‘Bureaucratic Impact on Investment Promotion in Ondo State.’ The anniversary has been flagged off by the Federal Public Service and the states of the federation are to follow suit, as is the practice. In Ondo State, a three-day programme has been lined up for the celebration.

“I consider this very germane because no lasting improvement on any system can be achieved if the operators sing discordant tones. I intend to deploy the platform to further secure the buy-in of public servants on the need to improve on service delivery, beginning with a change in attitude and orientation. If we get our values and orientations right, the rest will fall in place and we will evolve the service of our dream, bringing back the golden era of distinguished professional service.

“For all this and more, the public servants have the obligation to show understanding and demonstrate industry and dedication to the worker-friendly administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. The government is transparent and welfare-focused. I call on our workers to eschew unprofessional practices and to give their best on their beats,” he added. (THISDAY)

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