The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita yesterday told civil servants that there was no plan by the federal government to streamline its workforce any time soon.
Oyo-Ita assured participants of class 22 of the Policy, Strategy and Leadership Course of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) in Abuja that what government ‘has no plans to streamline its workforce rather, it is doing everything possible to improve the welfare of its workforce especially in the areas of housing, health and pension matters.”
Oyo-Ita however told the participants that government that efforts were on going to ensure the digitalization of records in the Federal Public Service to improve efficiency in the service.
The Head of Service advised participants of the course to develop policies that would move the country forward and to bring their intellectual ability into a positive process that would bring increased value to Nigerians. Stressing further on the need for a value and cultural re-orientation among civil servants in the country, she told the class 22 that it was critical to ensure professionalism, self-esteem, loyalty and dedication in the service.
Oyo-Ita added that government is exploring the possibility of having in place a Performance Management System (PMS) that will be used to encourage diligent personnel by rewarding them and sanctioning erring ones.
She further said that since she took over the leadership of the Federal Civil Service, she was not only looking at how to reposition the service to be more efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centred (EPIC), but also a service that would move from a cost centre to a revenue generating hub where the potentials of all revenue outfits in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government are fully utilized.
She said that her office embarked on the verification exercise of Directorate level officers in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
The exercise according to her is designed to produce accurate bio-data of this level of officers for informed leadership and succession planning in the Federal Public Service.
Speaking on behalf the class 22 participants, Mr. Asipita Umar expressed optimism, that with a better partnership with the Office, a viral civil service will evolve.
Umar noted that NIPSS was ever ready to working with government to build a dependable and reliable civil service.
(Vanguard)
