In A bold and uncompromising move, Ondo State government has drawn a hard line against sexual misconduct in its public service—declaring that any act of sexual harassment will now be met with immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries of the South-West, held in Akure, Head of Service, Mr. Bayo Philip emphasized that offenders will face both dismissal and criminal prosecution.

Philip warned that the era of silence and impunity is over. “We will no longer tolerate abuse cloaked in bureaucracy.

“The punishment is clear—dismissal and prosecution. The dignity of our workforce must be protected at all costs,”” Philip declared.

Among the reforms, maternity leave has been extended from three to six months, and for the first time, paternity leave of two weeks has been introduced. These changes reflect evolving dynamics of family life and the need for shared responsibility with a broader effort to modernize the civil service and make it more responsive to the needs of today’s workforce.

Philip, who said that the state, which has 42,000 staff strength with 13,000 pensioners, had no arrears of staff promotion.
“We’re not just changing rules,” Philip added. “We’re changing lives. This is a new dawn for public service in Ondo State.”
The state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Omojuwa, said that his administration had made policies to ensure the best could be achieved by civilian servants.

“Your members have undoubtedly played key roles in shaping government policies and programmes.

“ You have regularly agreed with various state governors, offering your wealth of experience and institutional capacity to positively influence policy formulation and engage in transformative development across the South-West.

“ I, therefore, wish to congratulate the leadership and ground members of this noble association for remaining ready for the height of your disengagement from active public service.

“Even though you have retired, you are not tired,” he said.

Mrs. Mojisola Ajayi, Chairperson of the association, used the platform to urge South-West governors to overhaul dysfunctional systems and restore efficiency across their civil services.
“Many retirees are facing economic hardship,” Ajayi said. “We need urgent pension reforms that prioritize their welfare. The success of Amotekun Corps should inspire similar innovation in other sectors.”
Ajayi also praised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his “compassionate and visionary leadership,” especially in championing pensioners’ rights and driving development across Ondo State.

The highlight of the event was the election of new regional executives, including Elder Demola Badejo (President, Ogun), Elder Daniel Aina (Vice President, Ekiti), and Mrs. Adenike Olufadewa (Secretary, Oyo). The team pledged to collaborate with regional development commissions to accelerate socio-economic progress.
The president, Ogun, Elder Demola Badejo said: “We will work hand-in-hand with DAWN and the South-West Development Commission to ensure our region thrives.”