The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, has called on Labour Unions in the Public Service to collaborate with Government to ensure sustained industrial harmony in the Service. She assured the unions of Government commitment to improve the welfare and benefits of Civil Servants.
The HCSF made this pronouncement on Wednesday, 17th October, 2018 in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Separate Meetings of the National Public Service Negotiating Councils I, II and III, organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Mrs Oyo-Ita said one of the steps taken to implement the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FSSSIP) was the re-establishment of the Service Welfare Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The office has the mandate to fully implement all welfare related issues outlined in the eight priority areas of the Strategy and Implementation Plan.
According to her, the meeting with the theme: ‘Sustaining Industrial Harmony in the Public Sector: An Imperative for Achieving Federal Government’s Change Agenda for National Development,’ is targeted at reawakening the consciousness of employers and employees on the need to sustain industrial peace and harmony in the Public Service, a necessary condition for efficient and effective service delivery.
Mrs Oyo- Ita further urged stakeholders at Federal and State Government levels to continuously embrace the principle of collective bargaining and mutual respect at all meetings. She stressed the importance for all parties to be well informed on policy and economic realities as it pertain to the welfare of workers and other related matters to avoid exaggerated expectations.
She revealed that the office has come up with some unique innovations. The new system is expected to take care of the well-being of employees beginning from entry into the service to exit and beyond.
The Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, in her speech revealed that the meeting is an interface to consistently build cooperation and collaboration with Union leaders with a view to sustaining industrial harmony in the Public Service.
The 3-day meeting brought together Trade Union leaders of the three Negotiating Councils representing the eight approved Public Service Trade Unions, Chairmen and General Secretaries of the respective Separate Councils I, II and III at the State levels, to deliberate on critical matters bordering on welfare and other conditions of service.
Akinwumi Olufunke Taiwo.
For: Director (Communications)
