The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has been presented the award of Best Performing Governor of the Year by the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU) in recognition of his commitment to workers’ welfare, civil service reforms, and people-centred governance.
Receiving the award on Thursday in Abuja on the Governor’s behalf, the Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and members of the union for the recognition accorded the Governor. She stated that the award reflected the confidence workers across Nigeria have in Governor Oyebanji’s leadership and commitment to civil service reforms. Dr. Olomojobi reaffirmed the administration’s unwavering commitment to workers’ welfare, professionalism, merit-based appointments, and transparent labour relations, adding that the Governor consistently encourages negotiations and dialogue on matters affecting workers. According to her, the Governor remains committed to improving the working conditions of civil servants and ensuring that the public service in Ekiti State remains professional and productive.
The award was presented by the National President of the NCSU, Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday JB, during the Union’s National Executive Council meeting held at Green Minds Hotel, Abuja. The event attracted all the NEC and NAC members from the 36 states of the Federation as well as labour leaders, civil servants, and key stakeholders.
Presenting the award, Comrade Adeleye described Governor Oyebanji as a compassionate and responsive leader whose administration has transformed the welfare and dignity of civil servants in Ekiti State through sincerity, dialogue, and consistent support for the workers. He praised the Governor for implementing worker-friendly policies, ensuring prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities while sustaining industrial peace and prioritising the welfare of workers and retirees in the state. According to him, the approval of GL 15 status for Executive officers in the state civil service reflected the Governor’s commitment to fairness, career progression, and professional growth within the public service.
Labour leaders at the event described Ekiti State as a model for labour relations and civil service administration in Nigeria, stressing that the state has maintained peaceful industrial relations through dialogue, mutual respect, and continuous engagement with workers. They noted that workers in Ekiti State now enjoy regular payment of salaries, prompt implementation of promotion benefits, housing and car loan schemes, and regular remittance of pension deductions under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The union further disclosed that the Oyebanji administration had released over N6 billion naira for the settlement of gratuities and retirement benefits of retirees at the state level while also sustaining monthly releases of N250 million for the payment of outstanding gratuities of retirees.
The NCSU President also commended the Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, for maintaining stability, cooperation, and professionalism within the civil service, noting that her leadership has contributed immensely to the cordial relationship between government and labour unions in the state.
Other dignitaries at the event were Comrade Kayode Fatomiluyi, SSA on Labour Matters, Pharmacist Olatunde Kolapo, NLC Chairman, Ekiti State, among others. The event concluded with goodwill messages, commendations from labour leaders across Nigeria, and renewed calls for continued support for workers’ welfare and sustainable civil service reforms across the country.
