Ondo Adopts AI-Driven Payroll System to Strengthen Public
By Asaye Bankole
The Ondo State Government has launched a new artificial intelligence-driven Human Resources and Payroll Platform, known as Ondo Pay, to modernise the management of government employees and improve payroll services across the state.
The platform, unveiled in Akure on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, will enable civil servants to access a range of payroll services through their mobile phones, reducing the need for physical visits to government offices and helping to speed up the resolution of payroll-related issues.
According to a statement by the Media Officer of Smart Apps Limited, Mathias Oblete, the initiative is part of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration’s efforts to adopt technology in strengthening governance and improving public service delivery.
One of the major components of Ondo Pay is the SmartApps AI mobile self-service application. Through the application, authorised workers can access their payroll information and perform several functions remotely.
Civil servants will be able to view and download payslips, check salary payments and deductions, update approved personal information, submit requests and receive notifications relating to their payroll in real time.Speaking at the launch, the Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, described the platform as an important development in the state’s efforts to build a more efficient, transparent and responsive civil service.
Odusanya emphasised the importance of maintaining accurate personnel records, noting that reliable information was essential to effective governance.“Good governance requires good information, and good information begins with reliable records,” he said.
He added that the self-service features would reduce unnecessary delays while improving communication between civil servants and government agencies.
The Head of Service urged permanent secretaries, heads of departments, personnel officers and other relevant officials to provide the necessary support and leadership for the successful implementation of the system.
He also called for strict compliance with standards covering data accuracy, confidentiality, security and professionalism in the management of workers’ information.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowumi Isaac, said the platform would strengthen financial accountability through improved payroll controls, self-service access and transparent audit trails.She explained that Ondo Pay would make payroll administration easier while providing government with a clear and verifiable record of transactions, approvals and other payroll activities.
Officials explained that the wider system brings together employee records, salary computation, approval processes, payroll processing, reporting and pension migration on a centralised digital platform.
The system also incorporates user authentication, controlled access and auditable workflows designed to improve transparency and minimise irregularities in payroll management.Beyond salary administration, the government expects the platform to provide more accurate workforce data for planning, policy development and informed decision-making.
For civil servants, Ondo Pay is expected to make access to salary information more convenient, speed up the handling of complaints and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with traditional payroll procedures.
The state government said the initiative forms part of its broader digital governance agenda, with the ultimate objective of ensuring that every eligible employee receives the correct salary at the appropriate time.
The launch further underscores Ondo State’s push toward technology-driven public administration, with the government seeking to reduce bureaucracy, strengthen accountability and improve the overall efficiency of the civil service.
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