.....As Public Service Day celebrations continue with health checks 

The health and well-being of Public Servants have been said to remain fundamental to the effectiveness of the Public Service, as a healthy workforce is better equipped to discharge its responsibilities with efficiency, commitment and sustained productivity. 

This was the submission of the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka at the flag off of a diagnostic programme tagged "Know Your Health Status" put together by the State Government as part of activities commemorating the  year 2026 Public Service Day, held at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to him, the programme was put in place to provide a valuable opportunity for the workers to prioritize their health through preventive care, health screening and early detection.

He encouraged the Public Servants to take full advantage of the initiative and added that timely health checks can facilitate the early identification of potential health challenges and enable appropriate steps to be taken towards maintaining healthy and productive lives.

"The State Government, under the purposeful leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, has continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to the welfare and well-being of public servants. This commitment is reflected in the extension of the palliative allowance, weekly one-day-off arrangement, timely payment of salaries and other legitimate entitlements, as well as sustained investment in capacity building and professional development.

"These measures underscore the Administration’s recognition that the well-being, motivation and continuous development of public servants are essential to building a productive workforce and delivering quality services to our people.

"I therefore encourage everyone to make regular health checks a personal habit rather than wait until symptoms arise. Embrace preventive healthcare, adopt healthier lifestyles and pay great attention to your physical and mental well being, as a healthy public servant is better positioned to serve with energy, clarity of purpose and sustained commitment", the HoS said.

In their separate submissions on how to enhance a healthy living, a Consultant Family Physician, Dr. Adekunle Adekanmbi, a Registered Dietician and Nutritionist, Mrs. Moyosore Ademuyiwa and a Chief Physiotherapist, Mr. Kolawole Mustapha, advised the workers to imbibe a good healthy behaviour, as it is a means of early detection of ill health that can be addressed before it blossoms into life threatening ailments.

They emphasized on the importance and benefits of taking breakfast, and not skipping any meal, as accurate timing and right proportion of meals make the body system function optimally, while simple office physical exercises to avoid joints and neck pains were demonstrated for the workers to run with in order to avoid sedentary lifestyle as a result of sitting for too long as they discharge their statutory duties.

Also speaking, a Deputy Director from the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme, (OGSHIA), Mrs. Tinu Sennuga encouraged the workers who are yet to register into the scheme to do so as many benefits are embedded in it which includes provision of health care services for the beneficiaries especially when one is financially incapable.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mr. Akintomide Osibodu, appreciated the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his approval to organise the programme and urged the workers to justify the huge investment by taking maximum advantage of the event to be more productive at their duty posts.