……………Commends HCSF For Inaugural Retreat With HOS of 36 States And FCT.
FIC Report (Delta State) – The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs Didi Esther Walson- Jack, OON mni, has been commended for organizing the inaugural retreat of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with the Heads of Service of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, held recently from 12th to 14th May 2025 at the Hillside Hotel Conference Hall Katsina State with the theme: “The Future of the Nigerian Civil Service: Harnessing Federal-State Collaboration for Accelerated Development”.
The Delta State Head of Service Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji made the commentation during a radio broadcast at the Delta State owned Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Asaba today Monday 23rd June, 2025 to commemorate Year 2025 Civil Service Week with the theme: “Five Years to 2030- Accelerating Public Service Delivery for a Sustainable Future.”
The Delta HOS stated that this year’s Civil Service Week celebration was not just ceremonial; she described it as deeply symbolic and a moment of reflection and recommitment to shared values and mission in public governance.
Dr. (Mrs.) Oseji disclosed that the celebration focuses on the reaffirmation of core values of professionalism, patriotism, accountability, integrity, innovation and service excellence, pointing out that these values are the pillars from which the State Civil Service under her leadership anchors the transformative progress that the public need and deserve.
Dr. (Mrs.) Oseji who will mark her 100 days in office by 19th July 2025 as Delta State Head of Service, in her words said: ” We are taking deliberate steps to strengthen our institutions, equip our personnel and modernize our service processes. This includes enhancing digital infrastructure, deepening inter-agency collaboration and promoting meritocracy and inclusiveness across our civil and public service structure.”
The Delta HOS also expressed appreciation to the Governor Delta State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff oborevwori for what she described as the historic and progressive appointment of a female medical doctor as the Head of Service, stressing that the milestone reflects a profound commitment to gender equity and the celebration of competence in leadership.
Dr. (Mrs.) Oseji added that still in her first 100 days in Office as the Delta HOS, a number of programmes and activities aimed at repositioning the Delta State Civil Service had been initiated. She identified twenty of such initiatives and activities to include but not limited to: organizing physical meetings twice a year with Permanent Secretaries and Head of Extra Ministerial Departments alternating with virtual meetings; re-launch of The Bureaucrat Publication of the Office of the Head of Service; promoting speed and ease of doing business to improve the State’s ranking; promoting agriculture among Public servants; organizing of online training programmes for public servants; regular breakfast dialogue sessions between Head of Service and selected staff of MDAs. Also, she identified building of capacity of public servants in Financial Management as well as strengthening of Servicom Ministerial Units by organising regular monitoring visits among others.
Dr (Mrs.) Oseji further noted that through coordinated engagement and with the diligent commitment of the assistance of the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Public Service Office, Office of the Head of Service Mr. Ejiro Erhiakeme , access has been secured to 13 structured digital platforms across the Civil Service, a development the HOS noted, has attracted a combined membership of over 9,000 officers representing various cadres and ensuring broad-based reach and effective message delivery.
She charged all public servants in Delta State to adhere strictly to the provisions of applicable rules, circulars and regulatory frameworks.
Dr (Mrs.) Oseji also mandated MDAs to regularly submit information to the Office of the Head of Service which she explained, would be used to evaluate their performance and compliance with directives to enhance productivity and efficiency of the service.
The Delta HOS listed some of the information required from MDAs to include; date of meetings between Permanent Secretaries and Directors. Key performance indicators for the first six months of the year 2025, the topic and number of participants in the most recent in capacity building Programmes as well as the title of any new pilot project undertaken by MDAs in collaboration with external proponents.
She also outlined other events to mark the week long Civil Service Week to include public lecture, a public service quiz competition and sporting tournaments as well as free medical checkup all have been created to boost the Morale of public servants and encourage professional excellence as she noted that a healthy worker is a productive worker.
Dr. (Mrs.) Oseji stressed that the celebration was not only about aligning with a global agenda aimed at delivering measurable Programmes in all Ministries Departments and Agencies as according to her, the public service remains the engine of sustainable development.
Signed
Celestine Afokobah
FIC Asaba Delta State
23rd June, 2025.
