Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called for a repositioning of the State public service to engender teamwork and bridge the gaps between policy proposals and implementation of programmes and projects within specified timelines.
Governor Eno made the call while declaring open a 5-day workshop organized by the State Government in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College, (ASCON), Lagos, on “Leadership and Good Governance” for Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the Akwa Ibom State Public Service, at the Ibom-LED Centre, Uyo.
Affirming his administration’s value for capacity development, the Akwa Ibom State Governor said the training was part of efforts at enhancing and retooling the State’s workforce for optimal productivity by refreshing and broadening their repertoire of knowledge, while upskilling these personnel at the top echelon of the state public service for maximum efficiency.
He thanked the ASCON team for heeding the government’s call to bring the training to Akwa Ibom State, explaining that bringing the training to the State has afforded more persons in the State’s workforce to reap from the seasoned resource persons from one of Nigeria’s renowned citadels of learning while also saving cost.
The Governor charged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen their skills and capacity which would help actualize the lofty policies of the present administration.
“I hereby urge you to make the best use of this training. I expect this training to elicit resourceful engagement on the part of the participants as key drivers in the formulation and implementation of government policies, programmes and projects.
“As you are aware, government’s investment in this training for the workforce is to help you gain necessary managerial skills to refine your approach to service delivery, and awaken your team spirit in your various lines of duty.
” Let me therefore remind you of the high expectations of government and the good people of the State on you to demonstrate a high level of commitment towards the realization of the policy thrust of the present administration,” he said.
He urged the participants, as managers of human resources to endeavour to reenergize the Public Service to feature team spirit and synergy in pursuit of policy actualization within set timelines through the adoption delivery teams.
In his words, “one of the key things that is trending in modern day management is that government and senior echelon of management need delivery teams. Sometimes we can propose ideas but there should be a small team to help record deadlines and achieve set goals. In the next few months, we will begin to appoint delivery advisors; people who will help executives to meet their deadlines. They would share the dream with their principals, and know what to expect.
“Like in the Office the Governor, we are going to have a delivery advisor who works with me, goes to meetings with me and then captures all of the things we have said, all of the timelines and then facilitate delivery.
“If you are a leader, you must build a team around yourself. You must learn to work in groups. You must learn to seek people’s contributions about what you want to do. That doesn’t make you any less a leader. If we all come together, you will understand that we can gain a lot from each other. So I would like to see more of these ideals inculcated in our Civil Service,” he added.
The Governor who used the opportunity to tour round facilities at the Ibom LED center, applauded the management team of the center for the enormous work they have put in to reinvigorate the Ibom e-library which was becoming moribund.
The ASCON Director-General, Mrs. Cecilia Gayya, in her opening remarks, commended the Governor for being visionary and taking steps to create a capable workforce that can correctly interpret, internalize and execute his administration’s policies and programmes by initiating the training programme, assuring that the training will serve as a veritable tool for attaining and maintaining peak performances in the State’s Public Service.
According to Mrs. Gayya, the training has been designed to: develop common understanding of the ARISE Agenda, identify and develop effective strategies for good governance, upgrading skills in managing staff and handling labour issues, develop strategic leadership and human resources competencies for optimum performance, among other goals.
The Head of Civil Service and facilitator of the programme, Elder Effiong Essien, in his welcome address, expressed the gratitude of the management staff to the Governor for approving and funding the training, in addition to the several other human capacity development and welfare packages he has availed the Public Servants within just one year of his administration, as he welcomed resource persons and participants to the event.
He noted that the training comes in two batches, the first five days for permanent secretaries and thereafter, another five days for directors, which will all terminate on Friday, August 16th, 2024.
Similarly, the chairman, Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission, Mrs Ekereobong Umoh also appreciated the Governor for approving the training and for his laudable leadership disposition, adding that the training will go a long way to sharpen the skills of the trainees and take the state to greater heights.
