Aiyedatiwa swears in Taibat Oloruntoba as Commissioner, Special Advisers, others
… charges appointees on performance
By Lai Gidado
Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba on Thursday assumed office as Commissioner for Special Duties in Ondo State after taking the oath of office alongside other newly appointed commissioners, special advisers and Tutors-General, as well as chairmen and members of various commissions and boards.
The swearing-in and inauguration ceremony, held at the International Centre for Culture and Events (The Dome), Igbatoro Road, Akure, was presided over by the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa charged the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them through measurable performance and commitment to service.
According to a statement issued by Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State, other officials sworn in alongside Oloruntoba were Rt. Hon. Abimbola Fajolu, Special Adviser on Environment; Chief Ade Adeniyi, Special Adviser on Rural and Community Development; Mr Muyiwa Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Transport; Mr Femi Fadairo, Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy; and Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji, Special Adviser on Legislative Matters.
The newly appointed Tutors-General are Mr Iwagun Austin Olusola for Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr Jogbodo Bosede for Ondo Central and Mr Fasawe Toluwalase Abayomi for Ondo North.
The governor also inaugurated Dr. Man Ali as Chairman of the Ondo State Civil Service Commission, with Mr Michael Oshodi as member; Mr Oladimeji Abimbola as Chairman of the Ondo State Sports Council, alongside members; Mrs Olufunmilayo Ademulegun-Brown as Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, alongside members; and Pastor Segun Ayerin as Chairman of the Ondo State Local Government Service Commission, alongside members.
Others inaugurated were Alhaji Adam Chandy as Chairman of the Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board, alongside members; Pastor Peter Abimbola as Chairman of the Christian Welfare Board, alongside members; Mr Oluyemi Fasipe as Chairman of the Ondo State Competition and Consumer Protection Agency; and Mr Omolade Fabiyi as Chairman of the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board, alongside members.
Governor Aiyedatiwa described the exercise as more than a constitutional ritual, saying it provided an opportunity to renew the covenant of service, reaffirm commitment to good governance and strengthen the institutional architecture through which government fulfils its obligations to the people.
He congratulated the appointees, saying they were selected from among several qualified sons and daughters of the state based on their competence, experience, character and capacity to contribute to the development of Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa, however, reminded them that public office is a trust and not a reward, while appointment is not a trophy for personal gratification but a mandate for service and a responsibility to deliver results.
He noted that the appointees were assuming office at a time when citizens’ expectations of government had become higher and more complex, stressing that the people expected tangible results rather than rhetoric.
The governor charged the commissioner, special advisers and Tutors-General to demonstrate competence, loyalty, discretion, intellectual courage and measurable performance in their respective assignments.
He also urged the chairmen and members of commissions and boards to uphold merit, fairness, transparency, professionalism and due process in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Aiyedatiwa warned against personal preferences and sectional interests in decisions affecting appointments, careers, regulation, resources and public services, urging the appointees to work together as “One Administration and one team.”
He cautioned them against needless rivalry, bureaucratic obstruction, mediocrity and misuse of public trust.
The governor further urged the new appointees to familiarise themselves immediately with the “OUR EASE” development agenda and remain financially prudent, stressing that the ultimate beneficiary of every policy, budgetary allocation and government decision must be the people of Ondo State.
He announced that following a mid-year assessment of the 2026 Appropriation Law, the state’s budgetary framework had been raised from N524.411 billion to N769.384 billion, with additional resources targeted at roads, water, healthcare and other critical infrastructure.
According to him, at least five kilometres of roads would be constructed in each of the 18 local government areas, representing a minimum of 90 kilometres across the state.
He added that additional provision had been made for the Adegbola–St Mathias Flyover along Oba Adesida Road, Alagbaka, Akure.
As the next electoral season approaches, Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the success of all APC candidates, recalling his earlier Executive Order declaring Ondo State for Tinubu in 2027.
He urged the appointees to serve with humility, excellence and integrity, and to leave every institution better than they met it.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, reflected on the bedrock of leadership, emphasising that holding public office comes with the responsibility to uphold fundamental rights and practise responsible governance.
Fasoranti stressed the critical roles of the appointees in sustaining the momentum in infrastructure, education, health and agriculture, noting that every effort must align with the broader vision of building an economically self-sufficient and prosperous state.
He praised Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership for laying a firm foundation for future development and urged the appointees to work as a unified team, grounding their service in unwavering loyalty, transparency and dedication to the people.
While wishing them success in their respective appointments, the SSG encouraged them to leave a lasting legacy for the state.
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated appointees, the new Commissioner for Special Duties, Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba, expressed appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa for the confidence reposed in them to serve the state.
Oloruntoba assured the governor that the appointees would justify the trust by bringing their experience, commitment and expertise to bear on their respective responsibilities.
She pledged that they would remain committed to the administration’s development agenda and work diligently to contribute to the progress and prosperity of Ondo State.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Ololade Gbegudu; State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; members of the State Executive Council; political appointees; traditional rulers; religious leaders and other dignitaries.
