From WOLE BALOGUN, Ado-Ekiti

With pomp and ceremony, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose rewarded the best performing civil servants with a brand new KIA car, cash gifts and rolled out several incentives for the state’s workers’ welfare.
Fayose, who had spent over three days having meetings with the civil servants at the governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti, listened to their needs and yearnings, and assured that he would continue to accord top priority to their welfare.
The governor gave the assurance during the grand finale of this year’s Civil Service Week. The excited workers felt at home with the governor as they poured out their minds on various challenges they face at work. Each of them also received little cash gifts and bags of rice as part of the stomach infrastructure scheme.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in a statement yesterday said the state government would next year embark on the fencing of the State Secretariat along new Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, just as furniture in some offices would be replaced or refurbished.
The governor said the sum of N100 million would be spent on the fence and furniture projects.
“I appreciate and commend the state’s civil servants for your contributions and understanding. I am proud of you and to be a leader of the state today. I won’t take my return to office for granted and I promise to give the people the best,” Fayose stated. The governor also said he would be part of the committee that would look into all the issues raised by the workers during the interactive sessions he held with them.
In his address, the Head of Service, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, commended the governor for giving top priority to workers’ needs despite the lean resources at the disposal of the government.  He said the nearly 49,000 workers in the state would always support the administration to deliver on its promises to the people.
Faseluka urged workers not to relent in partnering with the present administration in delivering selfless service to the people of Ekiti State.
Mrs Bamisile Lucy, who picked the yes ballot, emerged the winner of the Kia Rio car among three shortlisted candidates in the senior cadre.
Alhaji Adeoye Akeem, who emerged the runner up went home with N250,000, while Miss Adeyemi Olayinka emerged the winner of the best civil servant in the junior category. She was given N500,000.
All the shortlisted candidates were given letters of commendation personally signed by the governor.