Professor Tunji Olaopa has described Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN) as a critical stakeholder in any public service reform as no nation can grow without a virile labour union. He said the issue of institutionalized indiscipline is worrisome and manifest in different ways in the service.
Chairman made this known when he received the National Executive of the association led by its President Comrade Tommy Etim Okon PhD in his office today on a courtesy visit.
He said for public service to be truly reformed restoring competency based assessment human resource that ensures meritocracy within federal character and which recognizes diversity that will engender a government of national competence in line with President Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda is very important.
The Chairman said critical success factor will depend on restoring those fundamental values that public service is known for to arrest culture of value breakdown with meritocracy at entrance level of the Federal public service.
He agreed that there is a need to strengthen the incentive system in the service; including the retirement age being moved to 65years from 60 years as well as service year from 35years to 40years.
He, however, emphasized that before this is implemented house-cleaning is necessary so that quality staff will be left, check redundancy and service over-bloating.
Olaopa intimated the gathering that the biggest problem of Nigeria is the quality of policy work especially at MDA levels; saying leaders do not work on how to improve themselves.
“Leaders need to be able to help themselves in order to help others, including a civil service that rarely muster capability readiness”.
According to Olaopa, he was glad that the Union body raised the issue of indiscipline which is almost institutionalized in the service. He lamented that the Commission that ought to be the gatekeeper does not have a robust policy strategy to ensure meritocracy. He added that in managing diversity competency has been overlooked. Hence, lots of innovative out of the box thinking are needed in this regard.
He disclosed that dynamic of induction affecting the core civil service also affects university system where the university compromise on competence by looking the other way instead of ensuring high quality of training.
He told the Union that as he has been engaging Commission’s in-house Union on his reform agenda, he will equally partner with the national body as his reform agenda unfolds.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Association, President Comrade Tommy Etim Okon who came in company of his Executive members, appreciated President Ahmed Tinubu for appointing the Chairman. He said Olaopa was the right person for the job.
Going down the memory lane where their path have crossed, Comrade said the team visit was to congratulate Chairman; urging him to bring to bear on the Commission those reforms experiences he is known for.
He promised to work with Chairman to ensure that things are done properly.
He, however, intimated the Chairman that some year’s back the Association was usually invited to observe the Commission’s Directorate examination which is no longer the case. He urged the Chairman to restore this to bring credibility and transparency to the examination exercise.
Comrade mentioned that before now in the service, discipline was the ultimate but now is not the norm. He revealed to the Chairman that those coming into the service now are doing so without going through the rudiments as well as taking a critical look at the issues of suspension and interdiction of officers which needs to follow due process.
Okon disclosed that a memo to move for service year to 40 from 35 and retirement age to 65 from 60 is being proposed.
The President urged the Chairman to move the accreditation and writing of promotion examination online so that the exercise will not be cumbersome.
He promised the Chairman that the Union will work with the Commission in the interest of the nation.
Signed:
Taiwo Hassan
Head (Press & Public Relations).
