………..….says merit, Federal Character and diversity management should guide the service.
With the courtesy visit of Prof. Tunji Olaopa, the Chairman Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and his Hon. Commissioners to the Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda Ph.D on Monday, the tone was set for the opening of the 43rd National Council of Civil Service Commissions on Tuesday 26th November, 2024.
In his keynote address on Tuesday at the event, Olaopa said civil service should prepare for the challenges ahead considering the digitization and innovation in the public administration landscape. He called for the institutionalisation of a merit system where recruitment, promotion and career management are guided by federal character and diversity management devoid of nepotism, patronage and corruption.
Olaopa informed the gathering that the last Council was held a decade ago and this year’s 43rd Council was a move to set it in motion again. He urged the participants to come up with ideas that will make service innovative, transformational and adaptive.
He asked: “How far are we taking advantage of technology to modernise our commissions’ operations and the discharge of their core functions? And if the digital penetrations in our operations have not been significant, is it that not a measure of our non-commitment to purpose, given the speed at which technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the world of work, especially as became more pronounced and defining after COVID-19 pandemic and its new normal?”
The 4day event with the theme: “The Role of the Civil Service Commissions in Driving the Renewed Hope Agenda of Government” will discuss issues of performance bond, ethical leadership, service delivery, corruption in leadership and governance and Nigerian civil service of the future within the context of Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.
He disclosed that the plan put in place by his immediate chairman, Dr. Tukur Bello Ingawa was being followed. He also told the participants that competency-based roadmaps and change management strategies should be strengthened; saying that a professionalized civil service rooted in mutual and not unwarranted adversarial relationship between Head of Service and Federal Civil Service Commission should cultivated so that each other will be seen as a partner and vision in progress.
Recognizing the place of the Millennial, the Gen Z and Gen Alpha generation in civil service conversation, Olaopa opined that civil service world of work was already manifesting disruption. He, therefore, called for a paradigm shift in the service to confront the change in order to catch up considering the knowledge formation and strategic anticipation, the embrace flexible employment policies, contracts and related HR techniques.
He advised State Chairmen and Commissioners to create learning events and conversations which will prepare officers to these changes and implement various strategies geared towards restoring governments as employers of choice.
Declaring the event open, Katsina State Deputy Governor, Mallam Faruk Lawal who represented the Executive Governor, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda Ph.D; urged the participants to come up with an effective outcome that will position the public service for the challenges ahead. The Governor informed the gathering that the strategic policy drive of the State Government was to reform the civil service by following merit-based approach in its recruitments and promotions without compromising the character principle of the State.
In her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Wilson Jack who spoke through Katsina State Head of Service Alhaji Falalu Bawale charged the gathering to rededicate their efforts to upliftment of the service. She disclosed that reforms embarked upon by both the Head of Service and Federal Civil Service Commission represent a fundamental shift towards creating a service that is guided by efficiency, productivity, incorruptibility and citizen-centred service delivery. She said this repositioning aligns with Federal Civil Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP25).
Jack called for collaboration and synergy at both Federal and State levels to foster consistency and coherence in service.
In his submission, the immediate past Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr. Tukur Bello Ingawa, in his goodwill messages eulogized Olaopa for sticking with the plan he met on the ground; saying that this will enable the growth and development of the Commission to be realized.
According to Ingawa, the ethics and values which are the cornerstones of service should guide civil servants. He encouraged civil servants to support the policies and programmes of the government.
The event which ends on Thursday, witnessed two presentations from resource persons. The other two are to be delivered on Wednesday followed with Q & A session.
The weeklong event will be rounded off with a communique issued to capture the outcome of the meeting and set the tone for the next 44th National Council on Civil Service Commissions in 2025.
Signed
Taiwo Hassan,
Head
(Press & Public Relations).
